The Pleasantville press., 1924-12-27
ONE MINUTE SERMON
NEW YEARS MESSAGE.
By R. ASHLEY CAKE
Sunshine Haven, Absecon. n. J.

From time immemorial New Years
day has been remembered as a time
for special observance. The summers
and winters have come and gone, but
they have left US with larger visions,
clearer conceptions and greater expe-
riences, by reason of which We be-
come more optimistic and less pessi-I
mistic: our faith increases, while our
doubts have verify diminished While
we have been looking heaYenward we
are more susceptible of loved ones
gone looking earthward. Skeptical
minds regard this statement as mat
ter of speculation, but in the language
of one of the Evangelical writer's, I'VE
speak of the things we have seen and
heard and which our hands have han
died of the word of life" Are they
not all ministering spirits sent forth
to minister for them who shall be
heirs of salvation ?"-Heb. l: "A. Look
heayenward, shade your eyes for the
light is exceedingly bright, you may be
lifted to the higher levels where with
the eye and ear of faith you may see
some angelic form of some loved one,
or hear the sweeter sound of Jesus's
name. Yea, your very own may be in
that throng and may be the one sent
to give light TO your mind and comfort
to your heart. Suffer the word of ex-
hortation, such realiZations and Wis
ions are not for the carnal mind they
are spiritual and can only be spiritu-
ally discerned. Believe this truth, act
on it," Blessed are the pure in heart
for they shall see Cod" It greatly
helps US in our efforts to prepare for
that hour when Loved Ones will meet
US at heavens gate and bid US vel
come home. In our recent visit to
Bethlehem Of Judea we learned that
Jesus is the Source of all heavenly
joys. We sang with united hearts and
voices,
Joy TO the world, the Lord has come"
The walls echoed, the bells chimed,
the garlands were wreathed. the an
thems We're rendered, the mountains,
hills and valleys responded, while the
chorus. Merry Christmas" vibrated
across the seas among all people of
all lands.
The story of Jesus in Bethlehem is
full of joy, it makes the poor heirs of
the kingdom of God, the ignorant wise
unto salvation, it unfolds mysteries to
the learned, that have been kept Sc
Best of all, our greatest JOY is in our
knowledge of sins forgiven. transgres-
sions blotted out, and that wave of
joy that began it's flow in Bethlehem
is flowing today, its. streams come to
the door of every mans heart, II COM
passes the entire world and is rich
enough to bless every human soul. In
the language of Beecher of worldwide
fo,, I, ,r,T - 1.
large enough to give anchorage to ev-
cry craft that sails on the stormy sea
of life, the soul of Jesus is rich en-
ough and full enough of gentleness
and sympathy to supply the wants of
the whole universe"
1t is in the light of these blessed
truths that we are asking the ques-
tion, How old art thou? Where dwell
est thou? These are tremendously
| important questions. They have 10 do
with US as individuals. paraphrased
with but little transposition, the ques-
tions are. How old are you? Where
do you live? Which way are you 60
| ing? We are not expecting a literal
answer as did Pharaoh of Jacob, nor
do We ask for a theological reply;
| Theology is for scholars. but charac-
| ter is within the reach Of all who are
willing 10 pay The price. Unless we
are willing to pass through the hot
| fires in this democracy through which
We are now journeying. We cannot
have it in the life that now is nor in
the life TO come.
Hence now is the time for US 10 take
our longitude and latitude. make our
meas surements and see how old We are
and toward what destiny We are tend
| ing. There are several ways whereby
We can compute our age. but only one
right way Many are estimating the
value OF their lives by their success
in their various vocations, by the am
cunt of wealth they have accumulated,
others measure their lifeis values by
their losses, reYerses and failures.
! They both are using 5he wrong yard
stick - unless correct easurements
with Gods rules, they will eventually
| find themselves in the balance and
| found wanting. The measurements
and calculations must be made with
| the heart, as we'll as with the brains.
Prof. John Lewis, of Colgate Univer-
| sity, used 10 tell his students: Young
! gentlemen, if you have to choose be
tween large head and large heart
! choose a large heart" That the Pro
| fessor was right is evident from the
| fact that out OF the heart are the
/ issues OF life, and il is with The heart
that man believes unto righteousness.
Where do you live, Rabbi? Where
dwellest Thou? That was what the
disciples asked Jesus. Note his reply,
THE foxes have holes and the birds of
the air have nests. but the Son OF man
| hath not where to lay his head" At
Bethlehem we found his first dwelling
place was manger. in his boyhood
days He lived in carpenters hut,
His last bed was a Roman cross. His
grave was a borrowed tomb But We
are now asking not for the residence
of the body. but the residence of the
soul We cannot tell where a man
lives by watching to see where he
dimes and lodges. Listen. Where did
Jesus live in mind and heart? He
lived while in the world in compan-
ionship with the Eternal Father. He
lived a life of love and service all the
way from Bethlehem to Calvary. Hear
his own words, Il am among you as
One who serves"
Likewise we are called to live a life
of holiness unto the Lord, not goody-
ism or sanctimoniousness not that in
sipid piety that goes around and phar-
isee like says | am better than thou,
but lives full of scriptural holiness.
Such lives with Gods love in our
hearts, and breathing spiritual atmos-
phere and ofttimes eating angels food
with the light of Gods countenance
shining upon US, will not need to tell