The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1948-01-01
THE LAND OF BEGINNING
AGAIN
J. BY REV. CHARLES TULGA

BY REV. CHARLES IULGA
sThe word of Jehovah came unto
Jonah the second time, saying, Arise,
go unto Ninevah, that great city and
preach unto it the preaching that /
bid thee" (Jonah BID
Standing, as we do today, just
within the threshold of new year,
it is inevitable that we should won
der what the future will>~have In
store for us of success or failure,
sickness or health, pleasure or pain.
| am sure that we are all conscious
of our failures during the year that
has past. We are in danger some
times of surrendering to the back
ward look, of concentrating our
thought too much upon the mistakes
and failures of the past. God gives
to us a new year in order that we
may look ahead, that we may think
about the new beginning that is
ours, that our hearts may be filled
with courage and hope. \
New Year has ever been time
of fresh resolve and renewed con-
secration. Phillips Brooks strikes a
true note when he says, Sad will
be the day for any man when he be-
comes contented with the thoughts
he is thinking and the deeds he IS
doing when there is not beating at
the doors of his soul some great de-
sire to do something larger, which
he knows he was meant and made
to do" This will involve the end
ing of something's of which you are
not very proud; it will involve some
new beginnings. No one should go
into the new year satisfied with the
meagre achievements of the old.
If you drag with you into the New
Year the remembrance of your for
mer follies, blunders and mistakes,
like a convict dragging the ball and
chain on his foot, assuring yourself
that another year of bitterness and
disiIlusionment will be yours, and
it will verify come to pass. But God
has provided something different
for you.
l. 1T IS THE LAND OF THE BE-
GINNING AGAIN.
The poet has written:
wish that there was some Won
derful place
Called the land of beginning
again;
Where all our mistakes and all
our heartaches
And all our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby
old coat at the door
And never be put on again.
This is what God actually does
for the Individual who will avail
himself of it.
Kathleen Wheeler has our thought
y when she writes:
He came to my desk with CULVER
ing lip
The lesson was done.
Dear teacher, want new leaf,
he said,
81 have spoiled this one"
I took the old leaf, stained and
blotted,
And gave him new one all un-
spotted,
And into his sad eyes smiled,
do better now, my child"
Iwent to the throne with quiv-
erir.2 soul
The oldsyear was done.
Dear Father, hast Thou new
leaf for me?
l have spoiled this one"
He took the old leaf, stained and
blotted,
And gave me a new one all un
spotted,
And into my sad heart smiled,
do better now, my child.
The land of beginning again wa
created by God in order that thos
who fail might have a secon
chance. How terrible it would be
those who closed their eyes to heaV
en- never could see it again, If ev
habits once formed could not b
broken and if those who lost tn
right road could never find 1t agar
In the Bible we read of many VIII
discovered this land and avalle
themselves of its opportunities. L
the Old Testament we read of"San
son, David, Elijah and Jonah: In tn
New Testament, of Matthew, Pete
Zaccheus and Paul. After serlor
failure they all found the rlgf
road and made a fresh start. Tn
Gospel of Christ is the story OF tn
land of beginning again" For tW
thousand years the church has prt
claimed the gospel and counties
thousands have accepted Christ
their Savior and entered the land
promise.
II. THE OPPORTUNITIES I
THE LAND OF BEGlNNlN
AGAIN.
In the land of beginning aga
those who have lost their coura&
get new grip on life and rega
their old enthusiasm. When we To-
orr courage we want an easier ros
. and a lighter burden. We feel 1t IN
v possible to climb the hill and II
= responsibilities we have assume
os are too great. When courage IS gol
we lose our perspective and s.
dwarfs as giants and molehllls
mountains. We think OF our limit
tions and forget our posSollltle
L ~Ir,Sf n Jn