Pointer's

BE REASONABLE

Much is made in these days of practicality over the state­ment, "Genuine faith is never blind." A careful analysis of this statement is necessary if we are not to misunderstand it. Faith is not blind in the sense that the past always justifies it. Genuine faith works. It is a sure thing. From a philosophical point of view the present becomes the past so rapidly that the two are hardly distinguishable. We move then from a discussion of the past, where faith, because it is built upon accomplished fact, is never blind, to the future, where faith is as yet untried though spiritually exercised. Given time, the future will become the fleeting present and the eternal past. It stands to reason, then, that the fu­ture is made of the same essence as the present and the past. That is why it is so novel to anticipate the future on the basis of the past. Men do this in the business world and in practically every other field of human endeavor. As I attend workers' meet­ings where ministers project their program for the future, there is always a sheet passed out on which is a record of the past, and on the basis of that record, we predict the future, making only slight increases, so as to be viewed within the framework of our operational context. This is good politics, but it is neither spiritually reasonable nor neces­sary.

Let us go to the field of aeronautical science. Just where would aviation be in America without Billy Mitchell? And yet this man was court-martialed and condemned for forecasting what is today pres­ent reality. I need not take you back in history to the first man to say that if we sailed west we could come back east, because the earth is a sphere. The record of the past is replete on the question of that good man Galileo, who was forced by church coun­cils to assert what he did not believe to be mathe­matical fact, and so we go on being prisoners of our sameness, coerced by the collective mind. It is as stifling of ingenuity and outstanding accomplish­ment as if "big brother was watching."

Pentecost was an unusual departure from the norm, but it was not accomplished by unusual men. Indeed, their academic credentials were sus­pect. They were the most unlikely men to partici­pate in such a manifestation of spiritual power and effectiveness, but these ordinary men had extraor­dinary faith. They dared believe that God could do today something that was totally unrelated in volume and power to yesterday's best. To this mighty task they bent their energies and efforts. They were not trustful of themselves. Their faith was in their crucified and resurrected Lord and by this sign they conquered.

Brethren, in the name of common sense, let us seek uncommon faith and witness the outpouring of the Spirit of God in extraordinary fashion.

E. E. C.

GETTING AHEAD

THOSE who travel the twisting ribbons of concrete known as the highways of the nation are humbled by the fact that there is always somebody up front, ahead of them. However far you travel, you will discover this to be true. This makes for a philo­sophical restfulness as one travels along the high­way, keeping a steady pace, doing the job that is his at a given time and a given place. Frequently a car whizzes by as if its occupant just can't stand be­ing behind anybody. Now, it really isn't necessary for him to trail anybody, but if he hazards life and limb, not only his own but others, in order to get ahead, then it is reasonable to request that he cease from further dangerous highway manipula­tions.

Then there are others who go too slow. Fre­quently you will find a sign that says, "Minimum speed, 40 miles an hour," and believe it or not, we find someone creeping along that slow or slower. Such a driver is apparently without purpose and feels no urgent necessity to get anywhere, but is just out for the ride. If, as you approach from the rear, you notice two heads in the position where one ought to be, it could be that he is just rolling along and courting, exacting too much out of a present situation to get along to the next item.

My favorite driver begins the day with a goal in view and gauges his speed to reach his goal. He is careful to see that that goal does not require speed that might cost him or another his life and yet is fast enough to make him tax his energies to measure up at the end of the day.                       

E. E. C.