Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-16
How to Keep on
the UPGRADE
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMkISS
Text: Phil. III. IT, 10
Text: Phil. III. i2. II


Lifc is q Journey uphill. On the
mountaintop we see tho vision Of our
idca! selves. and the sight inspires us
TO earnest and persistent cndeavor lie
IS 10 be piticd who has no ideal FOR
MS life and character, who does not
care TO make each day an Improvement
upon the last who has no desire for
|pcrfccticn Tic only lives who strives
Tor better things, not in material pos
sessions. but lii character, In service.
In usefulness to the world. God shows
US clearly through our conaciousncss--
unless We have grown too dull TO APP
prcciate HIS mcssage-thc perfect man
hood for whose attainment we shouiG
strive. IIc sees us as He longs TO have
US be. and lie reveals TO us the vision
Others sec rs. not as We see ourselves
IN moments Of dependency, but as He
secs us. Just as father sees .iis
hoy as he longs for him TO be and seeks
to make the vision real 10 his son.
80 does Sod deal with US
Because the ideal Is high. therefore
the journey toward IL IS uphill. Ne
climb tho mountain 10 reach the SUM
nit. ''Exceisor" as Longfellow In his
youth who would fulfill his destiny.
ENPTRIENCEs FROM
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
And indeed the analogy Is very apt.
Those who hnve asccnded mountains
Know we'll all tho experiences aSso-
c!ated with their effort Sometimes
utter wearincss. 40 that there ~ mo-
ment OF physical :est demanded: some
tin es a fall. a slipping backward. lost
ground to be recovered: sometimes an
uncertainty regarding the path some
Vines a losing sight OF the summit be-
cause Of mist or 4 rock which hangs be
tween yes. and sometimes q long de-
tour which seems TO alter our direc-
ton and makes the longest way round
the shortest route" TO the -urEmit. 131;
these experiences, the mountain climber
VIII toll YOU. create the very fasc.na-
tion o. the cndcavor They arouse en-
thusiaSm. they make keene- the de
termination 10 gain the desired end.
,hcy lend :, kind ri mystery 10 tho
journey which cxcitcs curiosity and i'm
pclr 10 greater zeal So with l!fe'a
a. cent toward perfection Falls and
roinIr ANA disapoointmcats ard az
couraremerts. ques,iouinrs as TO the
POSSIBLE attainment. faith failing be
cause tho vision for a moment IS
81 VIC arc big men and women they
call us 10 greater energy md We leap
ahead with the cry, Il will not bc dc
ieatcd"
DownErndc In Life Means Ruin.
The downGradc fl life means ruin.
An ideal can never lie below us; 1t
must lie above MS and II calls us to
press onward i2ut the moment wc
\ cease 10 press onward we fall back
VAR. and II We do no, stop. or IL some
kindly hand does NOT >top M. we no.
only leave the manhood which should
hc ours farther aud farther behind MS.
bu, W. fac. tho ruin Of homes and
PRAYERS and longi,irs. cud a crash
which means death. 1T the end II re
Guires no s,rnrsl" 70 <" down. TIE
hotion - easy. nc resi- FROM eH"r; 9
'hoheut"'H reHel. 'ooo cothpah!
"''H't' ~ '""o""'S W. i'ii!"" th'
"aha'f hs We i'@S' "hriF 'Ss"claioNS
nhu tttchui! nc'It's b"h'l!" ", - We
'osc ''Sh' or COO as We hnf ourselves
carr'"a WIN cN"f-lh'fcasthE speed.
"hat an h"lui cSperiehc",
70" can w h"id ourselves 10 the
nps raae r"s.' ny remembering 'na'
- n" norma place Tor US. Upward,
Hot DOWNWARD, - INC IL" OF liie every
"hetc, IN" hea" an" inc hcar' are
.ao"N" ihc rect hho IN. ie"t arc ruled
~ 'hc head, We grow upward. III"
''' 49, .7Nt-'' NV NV" tiS ~! !
i ~ 'he'r faces. Music h"ats from the
Instrument or .h" VOC" AND rides 'non
INC wings OF the alr. - IS abnormal
VINO socks INC 'hinfs 81 cN!l or does
INC n"ens OF DARKNESS. God /. IN Ills
heaven ana nc caiiN US !" come NJ to
iiin. ! NY my eyes 10 the a!lls. and
"hen my t,icha mas cndcn ms journey,
n ! S'"hu ~ MS grave !ook UP. tor
nc mas ascenh"h !" INC Ni2ncr !'ic. h /"
mas gone 70 Zoo. Mannoon. then. ana
Hooie i!Niis "i'' i''c 70 IN" chmbinS. inc
struggle, inc ceasciess chort 10 be hot
ter ana 40 pe''er. can respect my
ser ohtF 'S my "eSires are Tor the
! h!shess.
HELP CAN ONLY
COME FROM Arrows.
Put can only keep on when / have
the help which comes from Him who
stands above mo and calls me up
! ward Ihc child left In tho wilder
! ness must perish or else. nourished by
Wild creatures hecoine rs ono OF them
and man, left TO his own devices. With