Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-04-19
I. Social Pleasures.

l. Social Pleasures.
There are people who falsely imag-
Inc that Christianity robs us Of inno-
cent social pleasures. have known
people to cultivate that idea as sort
of cover for their own lack of Chris
tianity. The life of Jesus makes it
clear that He was interested in all
social life. He sanctioned many
things by His presence. 'They made
Him a supper" at Bethany and Jesus
was glad to go. He had close per-
sonal relation to the three people Of
the Bethany home. Each one of them
honored Him in a characteristic way.
Jesus responded to each one without
rebuke and with evident appreciation.
Are we using the home today as
center of our pleasures as much as
we might? Comparisons are odious
and am not asking whether we are
using the home in this way as much
as we used to do. Certainly If chill
dren are to appreciate their home and
remain there with satisfaction they
must have oportunity to make it a So
cial center. They must be allowed to
invite their friends there. Even if
they do muss up the kitchen once in
while it is better to give them oppor-
tunity to make candy and to pop corn
than to compel them to go out on the
street for their fun.
More and more our churches are
furthering clean and sane recreation
in our communities. They are stand
ing back of playground movements
and institutions like the Y. NJ. C. A.
and the Y w. e. A., which furnish
social centers of constructive char
acter. Many churcnes also provide
tennis courts or simply equipped play
grounds for the use of their own
young people. Play is a normal in
stinct of youth. I'll Is to be recog-
niZed and directed, not condemned
and repreSsed.
III, "She Hath Done What She Could"
This is the finest epitaph which
can ever be written over any life. 1t
T.. IL, ..l, 4
by the poor as well as by the rich.
1t will requirev astly more sacrifice on
the part of rich people to come up to
the measure of this phrase than they
show in most instances. Nothing
less than the full measure of ability"
says DR.. Maclarcn, 'is the measure of
Christian obligation. Power to its
last particle is duty
Most people do not realize how
many things they are able to do
Many others do not do the things they
might. What can you tell me OF
your neighbour" asked the Angel
-loks- into things.
'oh, an excellent person." said the
Busy Man. Full of wisdom and vir.
tue; merry. too, withal; in short, 9
delightful companion"
You have been much together
them" asked the Angel who looks
into things
We'll. scarcely that" replied the
Busy Man; lin fact, have been 81
excessively busy that I have seer
nothing Of him for long time. But
now, I have every intention of doing
SO; indeed, I think will ask him Il
dine With me tonight"
You can hardly do thatw said the
Angel.
Why not?"
Because he died this morning."
Tue judgment which will fall upor
many of us will be that we did not d.
what we could.
III. "But Judas"
Nobody likes Judas. How did hi
get on the wrong side? Was he
thief because ne carried the bag fol
the little group of disciples? Or was
he a thief at heart before he became
q disciple? Why did not environ
ment" work In his case? Undoubt
edly there are four great factors which
make every mans life: Heredity, en-
vironment, the mans will. and tn,
never failing grace of God. Are W,
to expect that men Of the Judas typs
win recur In society todayY How
shall we help them? What more
could Jesus have done for Judas? Wai
there not every incentive for him tc
be true? Let us drop tear for Judas
and take warning from his example!
Nv. The Poor. MA
Jesus said, ''The poor ye have al