Bread by the Brook
Monthly Publication of Cherith Ministries, Inc.
HC 81 Box 30-A1
Lindside, WV 24951
E-Mail: cherithpress@yahoo.com
Internet: cherith-bible-inst.org

Contents

Lessons From The Book
E Pluribus Unum (James L. Jones)

Search The Scripture
The First Epistle To The Corinthians (Commentary)

Continuing Story
New River Diary (James L. Jones)

Simple Truth
Our Light Afflictions (Pastor Dennis Burks)

From The Heart
The Man In The Middle (Sharon Jones)

Christian Living
Things The Dumbest Man Taught Me (Pastor Terry Hagedorn)

Lessons In Living
There’s No Place Like Home (Jay Barrett)

Featured Christian Reading Material
New Life Manual (New Convert Booklet)
New River Diary (Part One)

The “ABC’s” of Salvation

Admit you are a sinner to God and yourself: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, and that you cannot save yourself: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

Confess your sins to God and ask Him to save you: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

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Lessons From The Book

By J. L. Jones

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Corinthians 1:10)

Here, we find the Apostle Paul placing a great deal of emphasis on unity. In the following verses, he elaborates on the need for unity in the church at Corinth by pointing out the different divisions among them. They were a group of people who were divided. I know this sounds strange, but it is very possible to be gathered as a group and, at the same time, be divided in purpose and intent.
Why is Paul led by the Holy Spirit to address this issue of unity to such a great length? Why is unity so important to the local church? Common sense and observation show us that the need for unity can be summed up in two words: success and survival.
Just look around us and see that in the realms of business, marriage, and even activities such as sports, unity is the key to success.
The prophet Amos asked, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” He asks us to use common sense. We cannot expect success in any endeavor, if the team members are going in different directions.
In sports, whether basketball or football, the team must be moving the ball toward a specify goal. Jesus enforced the divine law of unity when He said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matthew 12:25).
He takes us from the matter of success to the matter of survival. Amos says that the group without unity will not have success, and Jesus says that the divided group will not survive.
The founding fathers of our nation realized the importance of unity in the success and survival of this country. Many of these men were religious, while others were not. Yet, they all realized the value of the Biblical principle of unity.
When John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were assigned the task of designing a national seal in 1776, they included the expression E Pluribus Unum. Although Congress rejected their design and five others, the Latin expression was present on the approved seal submitted in 1782. Just over a decade later, the expression began to be used on United States coins. If you look closely at a United States coin, you will find E Pluribus Unum included.
What does the expression E Pluribus Unum mean? The Latin phrase means “one from many” or “out of many, one.”
Originally, it referred to the different colonies uniting into one federal state. Later, it was applied to the separate states united as one nation. We must never forget the original idea presented. The idea was to emphasize “the one” rather than “the many.” In order for the many to be part of the one, they had to accept and follow the guidelines adopted by the “one nation.”
This is the whole idea of unity that is presented in the Bible. As applied to America, the nation is strong because of the central guidelines adopted by its founders. Those who choose to become part of this nation must accept these guidelines. This has given the United States unity through the years.
The original idea of freedom in America simply meant the freedom of the individual to choose to become part of the one nation. To do so, the colony, state, or individual had to choose to accept and follow the guidelines. These guidelines included the Constitution, form of government, various laws, etc. This idea of many choosing to be part of one has provided success and survival for America. As long as “the one” can be defined, “the many are held in control. However, today, the emphasis has drifted away from “the one” to “the many.”
In order to accept and not offend “the many,” “the one” is being forced to dissolve its identity. Its language, its government, and its laws have defined America for years.
The freedom to become an American has been open to anyone who was willing to accept and pledge to follow the laws. Today, the one nation is being called upon to lose its identity so that those who oppose it can find safety, provision, and protection here. Instead of many becoming one, America is simply becoming “many being many.”
Paul reminds the Corinthian believers of the importance of unity in the local church, and at the same time, he tells them just what true unity is. It is wonderful how this single verse so clearly emphasizes the group (ye all) and the individual (the use of the word “same” in the verse).
“That ye all” equals E Pluribus, while “same thing” emphasizes Unum. This is the key for success and survival.
There are three details that must be in order before any group of people can have unity. These are: “speak the same thing”, “in the same mind,” and “in the same judgment.” Let’s examine these in order.

“Speak the Same Thing”

There must be a written rule of conduct and purpose. In America, we have a constitution and laws that are approved and recorded. In the local church, we have the Bible. Not a Bible in general, but a specific interpretation of the Word of God. This is what we call “doctrine.” The expression “speak the same thing” means that a local church must have a doctrinal position that is Bible based and received as the rule of faith and conduct.
Since the main objective of the local church is to spread and teach the Gospel to the people of the world, speaking is of utmost importance. Paul is saying that it’s not enough to just go around the world talking to people. The message that we spread must be agreed upon and, above all else, Biblical.
Since there are so many different definitions of the Gospel among people who claim to be Christians, the message of the local church should be clearly defined. If one group in the church believes that salvation is result of a person’s works and another believes that it is purely of grace through faith, the message of the whole is not “the same thing.”
This is where the idea of all the various branches of Christianity getting together and reaching the world is not reasonable, much less Scriptural. For this to happen, each group would have to say that its doctrine is not important. The message would have to take second place to the idea of “working together.”
A local church cannot tell the religions of the world what to believe, but it must be able to define what its members are going to believe. When speaking and believing “the same thing” becomes unimportant, the “church” or group becomes just another group of people made up of individuals who are doing what they think they ought to do.
The difference is that an E Pluribus Unum church is made up of a group of people who are determined to do what Christ has commanded them to do.

“The Same Mind”

This expression refers to direction. When the doctrine is right and the individuals of the group are surrendered to observe it, they will move in the right direction. This is what is referred to as balance in motive and action. The purest act in the eyes of God is when a person does the right thing while having the right motive. Many people go about doing the right thing, but their motives are wrong.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul used the example of Christ to reveal the perfect balance of motive and action.
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:2-11).

The humility of Christ in His surrender to His Father to offer Himself a sacrifice for the sins of mankind was sincere and pure in motive. Many people do things that seem to be self-denying, but their motive is to bring attention to themselves. Only God knows the true motive of a person’s heart, and He prizes a pure motive above mere religious or humanitarian acts.
The person may be sincere in his/her actions, but sincerity is not the gauge for weighing our actions. Dedication to God and His Word is the only true proof that we are going in the right direction for the right reason. The E Pluribus Unum church is made up of a group of individuals who believe the same doctrine and are living and serving according to the standard of God’s Word.

“The Same Judgment”

Having the same judgment is very important because it has to do with how we evaluate our actions. Any group of people who are trying to get something done must take the time to evaluate the results of their labor. The problem is that too often we seek to evaluate success or failure according to human standards.
When we judge by human standards, we come up with conflicting results. When left on his own, the individual will judge success and failure according to what he wanted, or expected, to happen.
God provided a safeguard to Joshua before sending him to conquer the Promised Land. There must have been some fear and concern on Joshua’s part about how to lead this group of people. Therefore, God gave him one of the most precise formulas for success found in the Bible,

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:6-8).

The E Pluribus Unum church is dedicated to believe, trust, and follow God’s Word and leave the results to Him.
Therefore, when evaluation time comes, the group will only have one question to consider. “Are we doing God’s will according to God’s Word, for the glory of God?”
If the individuals can answer in unison, then the group must continue on no matter what the visible results may be.

The Wrecking Crew

I stood on the street of a busy town,
Watching men tearing a building down;
“Are those men as skilled as the ones you would hire if
you wanted to build?”
“Oh, no, indeed,
Just common labor is all I need.”
“I can tear down as much in a day or two, Which took years
for skilled men to build and do.
And then I thought as I went my way,
Just which of these two roles am I trying to play?
Have I walked life’s road with care,
Measuring each deed with rule and square?
Or am I one of those who roam around,
Content with the labor of tearing down?

Search The Scriptures

The First Epistle To The Corinthians

The Responsibility Of Spirituality (cont.)
I Corinthians 4:9-21

Last month we looked at two responsibilities of spirituality. We saw that we should focus on our stewardship rather than success, and our spiritual service should be scriptural rather than successful. Now, we’ll look at three more Responsibilities of Spirituality.

Consistency Rather Than Comfort (4:9-13)

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

Paul calls them to remembrance of the fact that there is always a cross before a crown. It was so for Christ, and also for the apostles. In verse 9, the apostles laid down their lives to bring the Gospel unto them. Their every move was watched by men and angels. There are two ways Bible scholars view verses 10 through 13. Some interpret it as Paul’s reminder to the Corinthians that they enjoyed the blessing of the message of Christ, for the apostles took it out to an unbelieving world and suffered to bring the Gospel to them. Others believe Paul rebuked them for living in worldly ease while others suffered to serve Christ. Nonetheless, Paul assured them that the world’s hatred, persecution, and allurement are only temporary, a cross to be borne, on a path that leads to a crown.

Continuity Rather Than Creativity (4:14-17)

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Now, Paul begins to bring the whole matter into fine focus. The note on which he closes this division of spirituality is the fact that they were begotten through the Gospel. The Gospel once delivered is the only way of salvation, and there is no need to recreate or update its message.
Paul uses the illustration of a Father and his sons. A person only has one Father, although he may have many teachers. Paul preached the Gospel to the Corinthians, they believed, and were begotten into the family of God. Paul felt as a father to them, responsible for them, and he beseeched them to listen to him as a son would listen to his father and follow his example.
God had given Timothy to Paul through the Gospel, and now Timothy was coming to Corinth to remind them of Paul’s teaching and doctrine. The success of Timothy would not be his ability to change or revise the Gospel, but rather his faithfulness to the original message given by the inspiration of God through Paul. Verse 17 says; “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”
In this day when everything is being changed, the gospel must be preached and taught just as it was when Paul presented it . True scholarship is not to improve or update the Gospel, it is to be consistent with its original message. Paul exhorted them to follow his example in that he had followed Christ.
As we look to Paul as an example, look at him as an oarsman, a minister and steward of Christ. Look at Paul as being no more in God’s will than what we could be if we would only follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; and that is, a servant of Christ.

Power Rather Than Pride (4:18-21)

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Paul then pronounces his own responsibility as an apostle to not only proclaim the Word of God, but also to enforce it. He assured them that by God’s will and God’s grace, he would come to Corinth, regardless of the boastful threats that some made against him. Some had accused him of being a coward who had to write letters rather than rebuking them in person. He refers to them as being “puffed up” which is defined as being proud and having a lofty opinion of oneself.
Paul said when he arrived at Corinth, he would put their words to the test, and meet them face to face, and the Word of God would triumph. In the final verse, “What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” Paul would come with either blessings or rebuke. The manner in which he came would be up to them.

Continuing Story

New River Diary
Fiction by J. L. Jones

Odyssey
Fall, 1989

Within a short time, the attendant brought the conductor to Thomas.
“What is the problem sir?” the conductor asked.
“I made a big mistake, and I got to turn around and go back to Hinton.”
“Well sir, it’s not that easy. We have a schedule and other passengers with deadlines to meet. John here says that you are ticketed to go to Philadelphia. Why do you not want to go there?”
“I told you that I made a mistake. I have no business in Philadelphia. I don’t know anybody there, and I have no place to stay when I get there.”
“Do you have any money?”
“I have money, but that’s not the point. I can’t continue on this trip. It has made me sick. I just want to go back home and I’ll be fine.”
“Do you need medical attention? We can arrange that at the next stop, or other places if necessary.”
“No. If I can go back to Hinton, I’ll be fine. Just let me off at the next stop, and get me a ticket back to Hinton. Could you do that? I’ll pay the balance. Like I said, I have the money.”
“Sir. We can do that, but I’m not sure how many towns and layovers you’ll have before you head back to West Virginia. The last thing I want is you having to spend days on a train or in stations.”
“I don’t care, as long as I’m makin’ my way back to Hinton.”
“Well, let me work on it, and I’ll be back,” the conductor said as he left.
Jerry just sat there in silence for a minute before beginning to speak.
“Are you sure you want to turn back?” he asked Thomas.
“Yel, I just need to get back home.”
“Well, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you take this trip? Going to a big city like Philly and not knowing anyone could be dangerous. Did you have any plans at all?”
“No, I didn’t. That is the crazy thing about it. I was going to try to find somebody… It was stupid. I thought that God would just lead me…I thought I had complete peace about taking this trip, but the more I thought about it… Well, it made me sick.”
“Well, Mr. Redmond, sometimes God just wants us to use good sense. You just don’t take off to a big city expecting God to direct you to a specific person. It doesn’t work that way. Believe me. Sometimes I wish it did.”
“I reckon yer right. That’s why I got to get off this train. Every minute, I’m getting farther away from home.”
“Well here comes the fellow now. He’ll be able to get you back home.”
The attendant returned and gave Thomas the news.
“Mr. Redmond, we’re going to let you off at the next station and ticket you back to Hinton.”
“Oh, thank you so much. You are so…”
“Well, before you say that, let me give you the downside,” the attendant interrupted.
“Downside?”
“To put it plain and simple, you are going to spend a lot of time on a train; not to mention a few layovers.”
“That’s fine. I can handle that.”
“Well, here’s your tentative schedule. You can get your tickets at Cumberland.”
“Cumberland?”
“That’s the best we can do. It’s hard to make arrangements when you’re out on the trail, if you know what I mean. And Cumberland will be a pretty long layover.”
“Oh, that’s fine. I’m not complaining. Just so somebody can help me make the connections.”
“We’ll get you home. After a couple of out of the way stops, you’ll be headed back south toward home. It’s the best we can do.”
“Now that’s service,” Jerry horned in. “You’ll be back home before you know it.”
Thomas still felt a little sick, but he dared not say anything about it. Worse than that, he felt like a complete fool. He couldn’t understand what had happened. He had responded to a sermon and prayed about the trip. What had happened? Was his faith that off track?
He felt that it was best not to dwell on it because it only made him ill. Very few words were spoken between he and Jerry on the way to the next stop. There, Thomas got off the train, took his baggage, and began the out of the way, return trip toward home.

Simple Truth

Our Light Affliction 
by Pastor Dennis Burks

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” II Corinthians 4:17

Does it seem there are many things working against you?  Perhaps you are having health problems, financial difficulties, or even people problems.  We know we are supposed to trust God in these trying times, but it’s hard for us to understand why God allows so many problems to come into our lives. To prevent these battles from overwhelming us, we are reminded that it is God’s power that will prevail, and not anything of our own design. 

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” II Corinthians 4:6-7

These Afflictions Are
Created Specifically For Us

They are “our” afflictions. They are appointed to us by our heavenly Father.  There are times when we behave as though we don’t deserve what’s happening to us.  Our complaining is an insult to God who knows everything about our situation. 
When Job was going through his ordeal of suffering, God was still on the throne.  In fact, it was God who recommended Job to be the target of Satan’s wrath.  We must come to the conclusion that nothing can ever happen in the believer’s life (whether it be good or bad) unless it passes through the hand of God. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” ( Rom. 8:28) 

These Afflictions Are
Light

How is it possible that the pain and suffering of disease could ever be called “light affliction?” Most of us have been eye-witnesses of the effects of illness, accidents, and emotional traumas.  However, our afflictions are light when compared to the suffering of the Savior. Jesus suffered tremendously both physically and emotionally.  From the top of His head to the soles of His feet, there was not a single part of His body that didn’t suffer from the effects of the cross.  He knows about depression and anxiety.  Consider His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane .  He was forsaken and left alone to face the death of the cross.  He truly knows your pain! He is our sympathetic High Priest. 
Our afflictions are light when compared to the suffering of the lost sinner.  Luke, chapter 16, tells of the rich man who died, “…And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…” (Luke 16:23) 
This account lists his suffering as torment in the flames, thirst, memory, a burden for his family, and the ability to see into Heaven.  Regardless of what someone thinks, Hell is a real place.  The Bible gives us a lot more information about Hell than it does about Heaven. Those who are going to Heaven will have all eternity to discover how great and wonderful a place it really is.  On the other hand, a person who is headed for Hell must be warned to flee from the wrath to come.

These Afflictions Are
Limited

This verse also testifies to the extent of these afflictions.  From God’s perspective, they are only “for a moment.”   Our pain, our troubles, and our trials will not last forever.  When this earthly life is over, so will be the tears and the torment.  Some folks suffer most of their life. But, when we compare these few years we have upon the earth to eternity; we realize it is “but for a moment.” 
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3:8) 

These Afflictions
Work For Us

Notice another important word in this verse.  God does not say that “our light affliction” works against us, but “for” us.  We tend to think our “afflictions” are working against us, but the reality is that they’re producing a glory that will last forever.  Consider the life of Joseph as an example.  His brothers hated him, and sold him as a slave.  He is taken into Egypt and endures many hardships.  However, in the end, he becomes their salvation.  His response was, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Gen. 50:20)  We must learn to view our light affliction in consideration of eternity, and trust our Heavenly Father who is molding and shaping us into the image of His dear Son.

From The Heart

The Man

^{In The Middle}
by Sharon Jones

It’s all over now but the crying. All the agonizing, figuring, and frustration is behind us for at least another year. I’m referring to meeting the April 15 deadline for filing our income tax returns. Unless you have filed for an extension, that grueling process will not have to be dealt with again until next year. We have learned that keeping good records and all of our receipts in order will make the process a little easier and less time consuming. Nonetheless, it seems that each year the new tax laws are harder to understand.
I heard that next year, in an effort to ease this difficulty, the IRS will come out with a tax return with only 2 lines to fill out. Line 1 will state: How much did you earn in 2008? Line 2 will simply state: Send it.
George Washington once stated that he could not tell a lie. Many have said that’s because he never had to fill out an income tax return!
Another man, who is in the real estate business, said that if the housing market continues in this slump, he won’t have to lie on his next tax return.
Nobody likes to pay taxes and, there is a lot of grumbling and complaining taking place when it comes to paying our taxes. This is nothing new and people have not changed even since Bible times.
Whenever a special day or holiday rolls around, I like to go the Bible and see how that day compares with the times and people of the Bible. Turning to the Scriptures always helps me to make sense of what we’re going through and usually gives me a different perspective on how to deal with it.
There were several passages I could have read during tax season, but I chose to read Mark 12:13-17. The priests and elders thought they would ask Jesus a difficult question with no right answer, and then they would “catch Him in His words.” They thought they were being sly by sending certain Pharisees and Herodians to question Jesus on the subject of taxes.
Normally, the Pharisees and Herodians hated each other, but it seems their hatred for Jesus was deeper than their hatred for each other. They were not genuinely interested in solving the question of whether or not it was lawful to pay taxes or tribute to Caesar. The Pharisees felt that since they were Jews, they had no loyalty to Rome or Caesar, so they should not be obligated to pay taxes. The Herodians enjoyed all the favors Rome gave them through Herod, so they felt everyone should pay taxes.
Their question was designed to be a trick and a snare. They felt that no matter which way Jesus answered, they would have enough evidence to convict Him. If he would have said, “Yes, it is lawful to pay taxes,” the Pharisees would say He was a traitor. On the other hand, if He had said, “No, it is unlawful,” the Herodians could have Him arrested for treason. Jesus knew their wicked intentions and saw into their evil hearts. Again, people haven’t changed much have they?
Instead of answering their question, Jesus said, “Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I might see it.” When they handed him the coin, He asked “Whose is this image and superscription?” When they said, “Caesar’s,” He answered them by saying, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
It was accepted that when the king’s image was on the current coins of that day, it was that king who was sovereign and had the rule over the people. The Jews had earned their money and lived with certain advantages that came along with having Caesar’s rule over them. However, they felt that their loyalty to God would exempt them from paying taxes to Rome.
Jesus was teaching the principle that if you enjoy the advantages of a government then you have certain obligations to fulfill.
We, too, enjoy many advantages of living here in the United States. We have a military that protects us along with our local law enforcement agencies. We have roads that must be maintained and lights on our streets. Fire departments are there to safeguard our properties as well. If we accept all the benefits from these, we must help pay for them. We must “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”
Jesus answered their question and at the same time, He avoided the snare they thought they had laid for Him. They were sure they had Him trapped in the middle between their two groups, yet we see Jesus totally in control of an difficult situation.
Instead, He turned things around and put them right in the middle when He said, “and to God the things that are God’s.”
God has put His image and superscription upon the heart of every believer and we owe Him all our love, devotion and service. He should be the reigning King in our lives. We enjoy His many blessings everyday. It is God who gives us the very life and energy to have jobs in which to make a living so we can provide for our families.
In all this fussing they were doing about paying taxes and allegiance to Rome, they had neglected their allegiance to God. Now, instead of Jesus being in the middle between two groups, we find SELF lodged between the things that are Caesar’s and the things that are God’s. Self wants to give the least he can to each side so there is more left for his old selfish Self. Self wants to fuss, complain, and even cheat when it comes to paying Caesar, and he will use the same excuses when it comes to God.
God wants our hearts, but many times we listen to Self, and give our hearts to the pursuit of pleasures, influence, and money. Self will give the things to Caesar that clearly belong to God.
People are inclined to think that it is more important to pay unto Caesar than unto God. I remember some time back a group of men were asking my husband for advice. After reviewing the situation, he told them that what they were doing was wrong and displeasing to God. Some of them seemed to have every excuse to justify what they were doing. Then, he added that it was also illegal and would probably cost them a fine. “Oh,” said one of the men, “we’ll have to stop this immediately. We sure don’t want that to happen.” All of sudden, they were willing to do what was right.
In this portion of Scripture, Jesus gives us a clear teaching that if we give our hearts to Him, we’ll have no trouble in fulfilling our civil obligations. It’s no wonder we’re told that the men “marvelled at Him” when He spoke this lesson. Who knows, maybe some of these men, whose intentions were to plot against Jesus, changed their minds and gave their hearts to Him and worshiped Him.
It’s much easier to make right decisions as we stand in the middle, when we have already decided to place more importance on the things of God than the things of the world.

The Correct Way To Worry

1. Never worry over rumors or what “they” say. Get the facts first.
2. Know for sure what you are worrying about. Write it down if necessary.
3. Set a definite day, afternoon, or night for worrying.
4. Never worry in bed, in the dining room, living room, kitchen, or at church.
5. Select an air-conditioned room. Lean back in an easy chair.
6. Set a time limit. If you must go beyond it, give yourself credit for time-and-a-half.
7. Never worry when you are sick, tired or angry.
8. Never worry while working, playing, visiting or shopping
9. There are two times you should never worry - when you can help the situation and when you cannot.
10. Take all your worries to the Lord and leave them there!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Christian Living

Things The Dumbest Man Taught Me
by Pastor Terry Hagedorn

“My son hear the instruction of thy father.” Proverbs 1:8

When I was fifteen I realized that my father was dumb. He had always been that way. It just had not been so apparent to me until I became a teenager. However, it was now becoming obnoxiously obvious to me that he was turning into THE dumbest man in the world! I am not exaggerating. It was a malignant condition. He kept getting worse. And, I kept getting more and more disgusted with his dumbness. It was a dreadful situation.
And, I had to live with him! It was almost more than I could bear. How could someone as suave, sophisticated, and sharp as me have EVER been born to this hillbilly? There must have been a mix-up at the hospital! Mom and Dad HAD been expecting a girl. They hadn’t even picked out a boy’s name! They named me “Terry.”
My mother chose names from two of her favorite Sunday Comic characters: Terry, from “Terry and the Pirates”—a WWII fighter pilot, and Kent, from “Clark Kent: Superman”— mild-mannered writer.
Those names were prophetic! I flew combat missions in Vietnam; AND, I am a Super...well, a mild-mannered writer.
Dad did give me the dumb nickname of “Doc.” He thought I looked like one of the Seven Dwarves as a baby. Guess which one. Seriously, I am thankful for the name I was given for two reasons: 1) because my mother picked it out; and, 2) because it has kept me from taking myself too seriously.
However, today I would have been proud to have been named for my Dad: Robert B. Hagedorn.
Dad was always asking me dumb things about my friends, about school, about homework, about high school sports, about my future plans. Then he would ask dumb things about my habits, activities, and associates. So, he not only taught me how dumb he was—he taught me how dumb it is to work hard, to be honest, to be loyal, to love my family, to be a man and to fear God.
We weren’t saved until the 1970’s; however, Mom and Dad were God fearing. At the time that Dad was suffering with his advanced dumbness, I was an agnostic, atheist, open-minded, free thinker, radical hippie. I was too smart then to pay any attention to the “hicks from Dumbsville.”
However, it was at that time that Dad taught me the most memorable lesson. It was during the height of the hostilities between us. He was trying to make conversation with me at the breakfast table. He was asking more dumb questions like, “How are you? How’s school going?” He then said—or asked—something dumb like, “Doc, why won’t you talk to me? I love you. You’re my son.” Then he reached out his arm and placed it around my neck—to hug me. That was it! Actions speak louder than words! Dumb is AS dumb does!
“Dad, leave me alone! I’m sick of your dumb questions. Why don’t you just leave me alone? ...I hate you...” The words slipped out of my mouth. I couldn’t believe that I said them. They echoed in my mind. I wished that I hadn’t said them; BUT, I couldn’t take them back! I was too dumb and too proud.
The words stabbed like a knife into my father’s chest. His face went deathly pale. He said nothing—dumb or otherwise. He quietly pushed away from the table and went to the other room.
“Terry Kent Hagedorn!” mom angrily said. I knew what it meant when she used my full name.
“You should never have said that. You’ve hurt your father’s feelings. You go and apologize to him right now!,”
I wish now that I had listened to her. In fact, I wish now that I had always listened to every dumb thing that Mom and Dad said to me! I would have been better off!
I said, “I will not! I’m glad that I hurt his feelings! Maybe now he’ll leave me alone! I am so sick of his dumb questions and actions that I can’t stand it anymore!”
Leave me alone—he did. He purposely avoided me. If I came into a room—he left. If he needed to speak to me, he relayed the message to me through my mother or sister. He found excuses to not eat at the table with me. He ate before or after I did. He was not mean. He just acted cold.
At first, I loved it. Finally! I had my much coveted privacy. And, I did not have to put up with his dumbness.
This went on for about two blissful weeks. Then tragedy struck someone else! One day in school, my friend David was called out into the hallway. The principal whispered something to him.
David, also an agnostic, atheist, open-minded, free thinking radical, began to cry. The teacher put her arm around him and walked him to the office. After class, I learned that David’s father, a meat cutter at a large grocery store, had suffered a massive heart attack and had died.
“What if that had been Dad,” I selfishly thought to myself.
I was not as smart as I thought! I hadn’t thought about this possibility—permanent freedom from the dumbest man in the world. My stone cold heart melted. Like the Prodigal, I came to myself. I knew what I needed to do. My pride resisted tooth and nail. However, I determined to make things right—today!
As soon as I got home, I asked Mom, “Where’s Dad?”
She said, “In the basement.”
He saw me come down the stairs. He turned his back to me. I walked over to him and tapped him on his shoulder. He slowly turned and stoically asked, “What do you want?”
I said, “Dad, I am sorry for saying what I said. I don’t hate you. I love you. Please forgive me.”
He didn’t say a word—at first. He just hugged me...AND, for the first time in years I did not think it was so dumb.
He said, “Doc, I forgive you. I love you, too.”
The lesson that the dumbest man taught me was this: I might not always be in a loving fellowship with my father; but, I am always his son, he always loves me, and he is always ready to forgive me and restore full fellowship—if I confess my sin to him.
Pretty good lesson for the dumbest man in world, huh?

Lessons In Living


There’s No Place Like Home

by Jay Barrett

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20

There’s one thing about Americans that cannot be denied. No matter where we are in the world, there’s no place like home.
A New Yorker was shown the mighty volcano Vesuvius in eruption. “Nothing in America to compare with this,” bragged a native. “I should say not,” said the yankee, “Why the Niagara Falls would put that thing out in a minute!”
Another man from Colorado was visiting the Scottish highlands. The Scot demonstrated the remarkable echo, which returned clearly after a lapse of four minutes. “There, mon,” he said, “ye canna show anythin’ like that in your country.”
“We can do better than that,” the American boasted. “In my camp in the Rockies, when I go to bed at night, I just lean out the window and yell, “Time to get up!” and eight hours later the echo comes back and wakes me up in the morning!”
We Christians do not have to exaggerate about the wonder of our eternal home. Our finite minds are too limited to make it sound better than it is. The Christian can truly say, “There’s no place like home.”

Featured Books of the Month

New Life Manual 29 pages

The most important factor in any building process is having a strong foundation. Now that you are a believer in Christ and have received Him as your personal Savior, you must begin to fulfill your promise to live your life for Him. In this booklet, you will find some of the basic first steps in understanding and beginning your Christian Life. This booklet gives a realistic view of the life of the new convert to Christ and guides the new believer into understanding of the blessings and conflicts of the Christian life. This booklet directs the new convert into obedience concerning the Word of God, assurance, baptism and local church responsibility.

Sample Reading:
New Life Manual

New Life in Christ

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17) According to the Bible, two things happened the moment you received Christ as your Savior. First, old things passed away. Secondly, all things became new. The old things which passed away were the very things you recognized as being between you and peace with God. You must realize that the sin which separated you from God was carried to the grave by Christ. When He died on the Cross, He died for your sin and paid your sin debt to God. This is the message of the Gospel which you received- “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:1-3). Through faith in Christ, your sins have been forgiven and forgotten by God. Other people may not forget, and Satan may tempt you to believe that you are still guilty and helplessly trapped in your old sins; but the Word of God assures you that your sins were carried by Christ to the grave and are gone forever.
This is not to say that there are not situations and complications caused by your old life that need to be corrected. You may have to apologize to or make compensation to offended people. You may have to pay your debt to society for some civil crime committed; but as far as your relationship with God is concerned, you are forgiven and your slate is clean. In other words, the spiritual condemnation and eternal consequences of your sins are gone. The blood of Christ cleansed you of all sin, but the blessing of trusting in Christ does not end there with the passing away of old things. There is also the reality that ”all things are become new.” It is the understanding of these new things that helps you form a good foundation for your spiritual life and helps you make sure that your first steps are the correct steps. Let’s look at some of these new things.

A New Birth

When you received Christ as Savior and Lord of your life, you were born into a special family, the family of God. This special family is a spiritual family. This is explained by Christ in His conversation with Nicodemus, a religious leader. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:3-6). You have new brothers and sisters in this spiritual family. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). Your relationship with other believers goes beyond human friendship. It is a spiritual family bond. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (I John 5:1).
Because you have been born into a new family, you have a new Father. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (I John 3:1). God is your Father because of this new birth. He is a loving and caring Father: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11). As you mature in faith and learn more of your Heavenly Father, you will seek to live a life which honors and pleases Him. Those who are not believers will not understand this allegiance to your new Father and often say and do things against you. However, the love that you share with God will give you the strength to serve Him and love those who do not understand.

A New Friend

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). You may have many friends, or, on the other hand, you may be one who feels as if you haven’t a friend in the world. As a believer in Christ, you have a special Friend Who is closer and more sincere than any friend you have or can imagine. Jesus is not only your Lord and Savior, He is your personal Friend. “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15). A true friendship must be built upon three things- understanding, truth, and trust.
Jesus understands you. “For we have not an high priest (speaking of Christ as your representative before God the Father) which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Christ understands everything about you. He understands your weaknesses and loves you for who you are. Often, your worldly friends have expected you to be something or some one that you are not. This is why so many friendships are built upon deceit. However, your friendship with Christ is built upon His knowledge and understanding of who and what you are. This does not mean that there are things about you which do not need to change. This simply means that Christ’s knowledge about you and love for you will give you understanding in the areas where you do need to change. Another thing about true friendship is the understanding of belonging with some one. True friends have a feeling of belonging to the friendship and sharing the responsibilities that come with friendship. Christ made you and fitted you for a special place in His plan. Any change that Christ seeks to being in your life is a change for the better. It is a change that will transform you into the person God intended you to be, rather than a mere imitation of some one else. This is the special blessing of having the understanding friendship of Christ. He wants you to be yourself as God intended rather than what the world has made you.
Jesus will always be truthful to you. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). The fact that Jesus knows your every weakness does not mean that He wants you to go on living according to your weakness. Rather, He will point out your weakness and guide you into strength. A true friend will be a friend of truth. He will tell you the truth about yourself, even things that you are not aware of. You cannot see your true self because of yourself. You see yourself according to who you think you are; but Jesus sees you as you truly are and is faithful to tell you. His report is always a true report. When He commends you, it is not mere flattery. It is a reward for a true success. On the other hand, when a weakness is pointed out to you, it is a true and serious matter which demands your immediate attention.
You can trust in Christ. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:13). Jesus is a friend you can count on. Your friendship with Christ is an eternal friendship. Now that you are saved through faith in Him, you are aware of this eternal friendship and not only will your life be changed, but also your hope for the future. You have an eternal life with Him. It is this personal friendship with Christ that brings assurance and security to your Christian life. Since Jesus is your perfect friend, there will be no need for change on His part. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). In other words, do not try to adjust Jesus to fit your life, rather allow Him to adjust you toward becoming more like Him. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Corinthians 3:18).

A New Comforter

Since Christ is risen from the dead and gone back to heaven, how is He going to direct your life and make the necessary changes? How is He going to comfort you and direct you? The answer is given in the person of the Holy Spirit. When you received Christ as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit came to live in your heart. He is there within you to communicate between you and Christ. He tells you what Christ has said, and directs you as you talk to God. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
The Holy Spirit always guides you in the right direction. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:7-15). The comfort of the Holy Spirit is twofold. He will comfort you in your relationship with God through Christ, and He will comfort you in making the right decisions to become more like Christ.
Since you have placed your trust in Christ, you are aware of a new presence in your life. This is the personal presence of the Holy Spirit. The comfort of the Holy Spirit is twofold. He will comfort you in your relationship with God through Christ, and He will comfort you in making the right decisions to become more like Christ. He makes His presence known in two ways: He convicts and He comforts. Conviction also means two things. First, it means to feel guilty because of something wrong you have done. Before you were saved, there were many things that you did which did not bother you; but now you sense that these things are wrong. This is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He convicts you when you do things that are contrary to the Word of God. Secondly, conviction means to have a strong belief. As you allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of things that are wrong, you gain a strong belief against those things which are wrong. On the other hand, you also gain the conviction to do what is right instead. When you feel guilty over sin, it is the blessed Holy Spirit Who is guiding you into all truth. He wants you to bring honor to Christ in your life.

A New Guide

Because you have passed from an old life to a new life, you will need guidance as you progress. You need spiritual guidance and instruction because the way of God is different from the way of the old life you have lived. Your new life will be a learning process. To have true learning, there must be a teacher, a student, and a lesson. The Holy Spirit is your teacher, you are the student, and the Word of God provides the lessons. As a believer in Christ, you must study the Bible, listen to teaching and preaching, and trust the Holy Spirit to direct you into all truth. At the center of spiritual learning is the Word of God. Now that you are a child of God, the Bible is your guide, and you must seek to learn it and apply it to every decision of life. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (truth), for reproof (exposing wrong things in you life), for correction (restoring you back to what is right), for instruction in righteousness (teaching you how to live a life that is pleasing to God)” (II Timothy 3:16).
If you will be faithful to expose yourself to Bible teaching and preaching and personal Bible study, this special Book will tell you what to do to be pleasing to God. As a child of God, you discover a hunger for the Word of God. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). This hunger for the Word of God demands that you read the Bible on your own as well as listening to others teach and preach it. However, when you look at the Bible, you may first feel a little confused about where to start. The Bible is one Book which conatins sixty-six books. The first 39 books are called the Old Testament which deal with the history of mankind from creation until the coming of Christ. The Old Testament gives the promises of God concerning the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. The final 27 books are called the New Testament and deal with the Life of Christ and instruction on how to receive and serve Him. All sixty-six books are profitable for your spiritual growth. As one person said, in the Old is the New contained; in the New is the Old explained.... much more

The New River Diary (part 1)
139 pages with color photo insert
by J. L. Jones

The New River Diary is a fictitious account of a man's struggle with God, people, circumstances, and himself based on the Southern West Virginia lifestyle throughout the Twentieth Century. This Christian series follows the 92 year life-span of Thomas Redmond who arrives in the Mountain State in 1910 and soon discovers that "The New World" is not without its own kind of problems. This first book introduces the story and covers the period of time from the Redmond's trip to America until the closing of the Crawley saw mill in the winter of 1918.

About the Author

James L. Jones is a Christian writer and ordained minister who has authored many devotional books and articles. He was born in Beckley, West Virginia in 1950 and grew up around the New River area. He and his wife Sharon reside at Lindside, West Virginia where they operate Cherith Ministries, a nonprofit operation. All proceeds go toward the production of Christian literature.

Sample reading...

...All the way back to the docks, Patrick and Mick spoke back and forth; and it seemed that Mick was using a tone which he had never used with his father before. Thomas tried to follow their conversation, but the sights of Belfast so captivated him that their voices became mere background music to the continual drama of the big city.
At the dock, the family could hear Patrick arguing and threatening as the three returned.
Mabel, realizing that Patrick was too upset to explain what had happened, took Mick aside and made her inquiry to him.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Well, Mom... Dad decided to go to America.”
Mick had agreed with his father to remain silent about Patrick's health and make the whole matter appear as his decision. But there was another decision made on the way back.
“Mom,” Mick said in a very serious tone, “I'm going to stay here in Belfast. I'm taking a job with Harland and Woolf Ship Company. I'll be working on the Titanic, the biggest ship ever built.”
“But son, we may need you in America,” Mabel said, knowing that she was looking up to a strong and mature young man.
“He's a man now, Mabel; he's old enough to make up his own mind,” Patrick voiced out.
“But I always wanted us to be together as a family. We have always been close,” Mabel said as tears began to flow from her eyes as she looked away toward the other children who were out of hearing range.
“They need you, Mick,” was her desperate plea.
Thomas and Tara both had the look of utter confusion on their faces. They were still in shock from being taken away from the tenant farm land where their lives had been spent.
“This job will last two more years, and I'll make good money. I promise that I will come to America as soon as this job is finished,” Mick said.
“Do you promise?” Mabel forced the young man to a commitment. She and the children had always had a relationship of honesty.
“I promise.”
Thomas would never forget the feeling that rushed through him when he was told that Mick would not be going to America. Mick was the best friend that Thomas had, even if he was his brother. It was like a strange dream. Thomas had never learned to say good-bye, and little did he realize that the
close, day to day relationship that he had known with Mick was gone forever.
A couple of hours later, the Redmond family was on the ship leaving Belfast bound for New York. Mick waved to them from the dock until he was but a tiny speck. There was not a dry eye in the Redmond family that day.
“A man's gotta find his own path and walk it,” Patrick said, trying to convince himself as well as the family that Mick had made the right choice.

Chapter 2
Steerage

As the ship sailed farther from land, one by one, the passengers left the rails and wandered to their rooms to get settled. The Redmond family could only afford “steerage” tickets and were on one of the lower decks. Originally, "steerage" referred to a little inexpensive compartment near the rudder of a ship. Now the word simply meant "cheapest fare." The steerage passengers were crowded into an open area, where curtains and blankets were hung up to provide a very poor sense of privacy. They had a small cutaway deck where small groups could go for some fresh air, but they were forbidden to go up and mingle with the upper-class passengers.
There was, however, a passage deck and staircase leading to the upper decks with only a rope securing the area. This was in accordance with safety codes. There had to be access to the lifeboats in case of an emergency, but that would be the only occasion when steerage passengers would be allowed on the upper deck.
The rich upper class passengers did not want to be bothered by the poor “peasants” down below. Thomas would walk to the rope and look up the stair case to catch glimpses of the people as they walked past. They were laughing, talking, and more sociable than the steerage passengers who mostly kept to themselves. Another thing that kept Thomas looking up the stairs was the fancy dress of the upper-class passengers. They were adorned in dresses and hats the likes of which he had never seen.
One afternoon, Thomas was standing at the bottom of the rope when a round object came bouncing down the stairs, hit the wall, and rolled into the steerage entrance area. He followed the ball and picked it up. Immediately he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the metal stairs.
“Could I have my ball, please?” a voice came from the stairs.
Thomas turned to see who was talking. There, at the restraining rope, stood a young boy who seemed to be a few years older than Thomas. He was well dressed and definitely English. His hair was dark and oiled over to one side. Thomas felt a bit tramp-like in the presence of this handsome and well bred young man.
“Here is your ball; I was getting it for you,” Thomas said.
“Well, thank you very much,” the boy replied.
“What is your name?” he went on to ask.
“I'm Thomas… ah, Thomas Redmond. Who are you?”
“My name is James Graham, but my family calls me Jim.”
Jim looked at Thomas for few long seconds examining his rather poor apparel. The contrast was striking. Jim was clean and well dressed from head to toe, while Thomas was still in the clothes he had on when he left the tenant farm. And then there was the odor. Having been at sea for a several days, many of the steerage passengers were seasick; and those deep within the hull of the ship had no chance of making it to the breezeway rail when they were unable to hold down their soup and salted herring. Besides, it was crowded and without adequate facilities, making the odor unbearable at times.
Most of the people did not possess a variety of wardrobe; and because of the lack of privacy, were forced to sleep in their clothes. The very air on the lower deck was thick with every human odor imaginable. The Redmonds were fortunate to be among the last to board. Although being last carries the threat of having to wait for another ship in the case of lack of room, it offered the luxury of being near the stairway and the small breeze deck.
“Do you want to come up and play ball?”
“Can't, I'm not allowed.”
“Why not?”
Thomas looked down at the restraining cord stretched across the stair rails. It was just a small cord that could be easily untied or stepped over, but it represented a barrier that neither of the boys could understand, the wall of social distinction.
“Just can't,” Thomas answered as if it were no big deal to be on the other side of the cord...


For Information on obtaining copies of this booklet, simply email request for New Life Manual or New River Diary information to: