The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-21
GREAT NEED OF
DECISIONS Is
SERMON TOPIC
Rev. Stephen Palmer Of Nau-
kesha, Wis.,, Completes Sc
ries of Meetings Here


bringing the special services to a
church yesterday, Rev. Stephen Pal
mer of Waukesha. Wis, preached,
morning and evening to congrega-,
tions that filled the church to c..
pacity. Some were turned away Sum
day evening who could not obtain
standing room. The Rotarians at
tended the evening service in body.
In the morning Reverend Palmer
took as his subject, "Now l can see,"
relating how the blind man to whom
Christ restored sight bore testimony
to the fact that once he was blind
and now he could see. In the eve
ming he preached from the gath chap
ter Of the book Of Joshua and
brought forceful and convincing
sermon on the need Of decisions.
Joshua had called the people Of Isreal
to chose whom they would serve.
either the Lord or false gods. "There
is nothing 80 pitiful in life," he said,
"as person who lacks decisions.
There is nothing SO necessary\to bus
mess or profession a. the making Of
decisions. Whenever man today
asks for the things of this world as
an end in themselves. God usually
gives him just what he asks for and
sends leanness into his soul.
Joshua said, AS for me and my
house We will serve the Lord You
will note Joshua did not say as for
Mrs. Joshua and the children they
will serve the Lord--he began. 'as for
me and my house Ever since God
revealed himself to men he revealed
himself as spiritual guide and a
leader Of the home. When he brings
his message to men it is to the lead
or of the home. And when Joshua
spoke that word to the children Of
Israel he spoke it to himself first and
said this is Il decision for me.
Not a Grandstand Act
"The decision Joshua called his
people to make was not some grand
stand act. II was Il call to accept
the offer God had been making to
them God has always been making
offers to men. He offered men sin
lessness and men chose sin. He Of
| fered freedom and men chose bond
age. He offered men purity but men
allowed their lives to be stained. He
offered power and men chose weak
ness He offered victory and men
chose defeat. Joshua accepted the
| offer Of God and that is all any man
can do God does the rest.
/ 1--WE can have as many reform So
cicties and codes of ethics as we
will" he declared "but unless we
have Christ all is of no avail Some
folks have the wells Of life poilutt d.
The sol is full Of disease and what
do they do about it? They paint the
pump. The reforms of human life do
not come by pulling ourselves up by
the boot straps. We have tried that
since the dawn of day----but to as
! many as received Him and believed
in His name He gave the power of
God.
"Thc offer Of Jesus Christ is not
the offer that will take from life
anything worthwhile but it gives
something that makes, all else tax,
a relative value. He does not call
upon us TO give up anything. lie
calls u"on us for Il regeneration Of
soul, and then we will know the
things we want and the things We
don't want and there will be ma
struggle to give up the bad because
we simply don't care for it any long.
or.
Need Greater Than Ever
II wonder II tncre mas ever DccH
time, in history when there was a
greater need for decisions than now
he said in conclusion. "Men's con.
fidence in themselves and their own
works has been brought about by the
conquest of science, but there is nc
conflict between the great men Of
science and with God. Jesus Christ
came into the world to seek and Il
/, save that which was lost and ! am
here tonight to say that Jesus Christ
means more to me than anything
else. There is nothing desire more
to do than to offer men that match
less gift"
Mrs. Mackley sang 1.-THE Old Rug
ged Cross" and "Rose of Sharon" BY
request, together with several other
selections. Reverend Palmer lef
this morning for his home in Wiscon
sin. However, Rev. Paul Wright, tn.
local Presbyterian minister, plans t.
continue the evangelistic service:
) each Sunday evening.
1 NynrYrKN M Hyr