Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-24

make 1t just as simple as possible SO
1t can sink through the smell and get
at you. God made the world, and put
the people in it. And the people sin
ned, worshiped idols and went back
on God, and-did lot Of other mean
| things. So God was in honor bound
to punish them for that's the law, and
Gods the Judge that can't be bought.
He had to inflict punishment But
God and Jesus talked it over, and they
felt awfully bad about it, for theyvkind
of liked the people anyhow" She
stared at the disreputable figure
slouching on the chunk of wood. ITS
very hard to understand, very l
should think they would despise us
some of u.s. she added significantly.
I'm sure should. But anyhow they
didn't Are you getting me?"
The tleary eyes were really fasten-
and he hung upon her words.
We'll, they decided that Jesus
should come down here and live. and
be perfectly good, so He would not
deserve any punishment, and then God
would allow Him to receive the pun
ishment anyhow, and the rest of us
could go free. That would cover the
law See? Furnishing Him when He
deserved no punishment. Then they
could forgive us heathens that didn't
deserve it. Do you get that?" She
looked at him anxiously. st all hinges
on that, you know. I'm not preacher
myself. but that's the idea. So Jesus
was crucified. and then God said,
There He is! Look at Him. believe in
Him. worship Him, and in His name
you stand o. X See? That means. if
we give Him the chance, God'll let rJe-
sus take our share of the punishment.
So we've just got to let 60 and say,
All right, here l am. believe 1t, |
give up, know don't amount TO a
hill of beans-and you can say it very
honestly-but il you want me, and
will it call 1t square, God knows I'm
willing And there you are.
Won't drink any more?' ),
No, not if you let go hard enough.
1 mean," she caught herself up quick
~. II mean if you let clear go and turn
the job over to God. But you're not
to think you can keep decent by your
self for you can't-it's not born in you.
and something else is-just let go,
and stay let go. After that, it's Gods
Job. and unless you stick in and try.
to manage yourself, He'll see you
through"
"'All right, I'll do it,"
Carol gasped She opened her lips
a few times, and swallowed hard. She
didn't know what to do next Wildly
she racked her brain for the next step
in this vital performance.
"I-think we ought to pray" she
said feebly.
"All right, well pray He rolled
curiously of the stick Of wood, and
fell. as if by instinct, into the attitude
of prayer
Carol gazed about her helplessly
But true to her training. she knelt be-
side him. Then came silence.
'I-well, I'll pray" she said with
grim determination. Dear Father in
Heaven she began weakly, and then
she forgot her timidity and her fear,
and realized only that this was a crisis
in the life Of drunken man.
"Oh, God, he'll do it. He'll let go,
and turn 1t over to you. He isn't worth
God. none of us are, but You
can handle him, for You've had worse
jobs than this, though it doesn't seem
possible. You'll help him, God, and
love him, and show him how, for he
hasn't the fainest idea what to do next,
and neither have l. But You brought
him into our barn tonight and You'll
see him through. Oh, God, for Jesus
sake, help Ben Peters. Amen"
Nov, what shall do?' she won.
dered.
Whats your father for?" She look
ed quickly at Ben Peters. He had not
spoken. but something certainly. had
asked, What's your father for?"
You stay here, Ben. and pray for
yourself. and I'll send father out. I'm
not just sure what to say next, and
fatherIl finish you up. You pray for
all you're worth
She was gone in fash, through the
through the hall. up the stairs
two at time, and her arm thrown
closely about her fathers shoulder.
oh, father. got stuck she walled
I'm so ashamed of myself. But you
can finish him of. can't you? hon
estly believe he's started
He took her firmly by the arms and
squared her around on his lap. "One
two, three, ready. go. Now. what?"
Ito be cdntinued.)
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