Fraternity-Testvériség, 1967 (45. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1967-08-01 / 8-9. szám
In the Light of the Word of God — ON GOING TO CHURCH “Most of us agree that Protestants have never hammered very much on the duty of going to church. We have said all the time, it is necessary for the church to make itself attractive and interesting, so that people will want to come . . . There are obligations on the part of the people not to sit at home listening to the radio, and looking at television. That is too easy. Do something difficult. Go through the rain and snow. You have the feel that you are a part of the greatest organization on earth that is going to outlast all the rest of them . . . You’ve got to tell the importance of your individual participation and its life. You can’t go tramping around from church to church to fulfill your obligation. You’ve got to settle in one church and throw your life into it and build it . . . Who would want to go to a picnic all the time and eat out of other People’s basket? It is our obligation, as members of one church or another church, to give ourselves to it. It is the only hope of peace on earth and good will to men that exists among us . . . It is the church and its Savior, its Prince of Peace, who is the last hope of the earth, and yours is a high and holy opportunity to support it with your undeviating loyalty.” (Church Visitor — Los Angeles, Calif.) It is not only an opportunity, but also your Christian duty to go to your church regularly to praise the Lord thy God through the words of the 84th Psalm saying: How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS — A Poetic Version — Above all else love God alone; Bow down to neither wood nor stone. God’s name refuse to take in vain, The Sabbath rest with care maintain. Respect your parents all your days; Hold sacred human life always. Be loyal to your chosen mate; Steal nothing, neither small or great, Report with truth your neighbor’s deed; And rid your mind of selfish greed. A SMALL OR A REAL GOD? Dr. John A. Ross explains in his book: “Any god I could know every- thing about would be far too small to be the real God” — and then he is asking, “Would the Arctic Ocean fit inside my refrigerator? Could I capture a great storm in a gallon jug? Can I get the Creator of all the world inside my little skull?” —From a book review. THE MEANING OF LIFE We live in deeds not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. —Philip James Bailey TO OUR YOUTH When the twelve disciples returned to our Lord after a strenuous preaching and healing mission, Jesus saw how tired they were. Being with the Lord Jesus again meant no let-up in their schedule, because many people kept coming “and they had no leisure to eat.” Therefore our Lord said to His disciples: “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) In the midst of the busy schedules many of you young people have — with summer school and summer job and the rest — you need to come away from the ordinary routine and spend some time in a soul refreshing atmosphere such as that of the Calvin Synod Youth Conference. Even if you have not been so busy this summer, you will benefit from this week which is planned for your spiritual nourishment. This is the 18th year now, that we have such a conference for the youth of our synod. This year, the conference will again be held at very scenic and rustic Camp Kanesatake, near Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania, in the very center of the state. It will begin Sunday, August 20th and last till Saturday, August 26th. The theme of this conference is, “Christ Is What’s Happening.” It stresses the fact that the most worthwhile experience of youth is in knowing the Savior and in walking with Him. We will have for our speakers: Dr. John Butosi, the new President of Calvin Synod; Rev. Frank Csapó, who is well aware of the problems of youth. Our sessions of worship will be conducted by Thomas Luce, a theological student and a football hero of our past camps. For recreation there will be football ,baseball, swimming in a very large spring-fed pool, hiking and such planned programs as Rev. Joseph Kecs- keméthy’s slides of Hungary and the talent show. Several other pastors will also participate in the program. I am looking forward to seeing you at camp! Frank Endrei of <J/nterest — Joseph Kecskemethy: Our Labor Day Week In Ligonier ... For decades now the common Hungarian destiny, our common faith, our interests, plans, dreams and problems have brought together our distinguished clergy, many of our laymen, church leaders, as well as the officers of our Federation, for our annual meetings and conferences. Year after year God gathers His children of the common faith, the past, present and future stewards of our common cause, in the Bethlen Home, where faith, combined with the love of God and our fel- lowman, but especially the sacrificial love expressed toward the servants of our faith, have worked miracles for the past forty-five years. He brings us together at Ligonier in the cherished home and treasury of our spiritual wealth. Our Lord calls us again this year to the Bethlen Home to receive and to give expression of that spirit which founded our congregations, built our churches to the glory of God, founded our Hungarian Reformed Federation of America and performed miracles in our social, fraternal and church-life respectively. He calls the leaders of our great — Hungarian Reformed Family — of America and Canada, the ministers, elders and leaders of our church and institutional life, to find the ways and means toward closer cooperation between our churches, our Federation and our Bethlen Home for a better and happier future. During our 1967 “Labor Day Week Meetings” God gives us another 10
