Periodical with under cover editor and written by the very Rev. Masterspy, alias R. Cameron Smith, inspirational author of many stories

 

 

 

Hello everyone!                                   From the Editor

 

Often we hear and read about ‘saints’.  But who are these people? When did they live? Have you ever seen a saint?  Well, to answer these questions we must turn to the Bible.

 

 People talk about ‘Saint Paul’, ‘Saint Peter’, ‘Saint John’ as though they were the only saints in the Bible.  In fact the Bible never calls these men saints, only Paul, Peter and John.

 

Often you hear about people who have lived long ago, who did many good deeds, so a special service is conducted by the Pope to make them saints. These people must perform two miracles after they die, to become saints. This is so that people can pray to these saints for help.  Now the Bible says nothing about people becoming saints in this way or of praying to saints.

 

  Who then are ‘saints’?  In the first verses of Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians we are told that Paul wrote these letters ‘to the saints’. These were people who were then living, who trusted in Christ, and were saved by His grace.

 

The word saint means ‘a holy one’, a person who is saved and separated from the world.  Every Christian is a saint of God here and now.  No church or man can make a person a saint, only the Lord can do that. Saints are not a specially holy group among Christians who have great acceptance with God, so that we may pray to them.  Saints are sinners saved by Grace.  If you trust in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, then you are a saint of God.

 

 

 

 

Rescued by a Grasshopper

 

Thomas Gresham was born in England in 1519. His mother was so extremely poor and very distressed that she felt she could not look after her baby, so she wrapped him in a cloth and left him in a field among some tall grass, and she was never seen again.

 

But God, who controls all things, was watching over Thomas. A young boy about twelve years old, was collecting some grasshoppers. Suddenly he heard a large grasshopper chirp in the grass, so he ran to catch it.  Then he noticed a tiny baby lying in the grass.  He picked up the baby and took it home.

 

The authorities tried to find Thomas’ mother but she was never found, so he was adopted by some kind Christian people who cared for him.  Thomas became a very famous man. He was brilliant with money and the economy.  He became a very wealthy man, perhaps the wealthiest in England.  Thomas was a very sincere Christian and sought to live according to God’s word.

 

At that time England was a very poor country and greatly in debt, so King Edward V1  made him his royal agent in 1551, and charged him to manage England’s overseas debt.  Through trading on the Antwerp stock exchange, Thomas was able to clear that huge debt.  In 1571 Thomas Gresham built the first stock exchange in London out of his own money.  Queen Elizabeth 1 (1533-1603) made him a kinght.

 

But Thomas never forgot the Lord and His great care for him as an infant.  He chose the grasshopper as his crest, and had this crest placed on the walls of the Exchange and also on the top of the weathercock on the building.

 

Even to this day the Royal Stock Exchange in London has a large grasshopper on the front of the building. 

 

This reminds us of the people of Israel who set up a rock and called it “Ebenezer” after God had delivered them by sending a fierce storm that terrified their enemies, the Philistines.  Ebenezer means ‘hitherto has the Lord helped us’. 1 Samuel 7:12.

 

 

 

Smile-a-While

 

 

Well parked:  A driver from the outback visited a big city for the first time. He returned with a good report to his wife. “They thought I was a good driver so they placed a ticket on the windscreen saying, ‘parking fine.”

 

 

Cold out-house:  What is an ‘IG’ ?  It is an eskimo’s house without a loo!  (ig-loo)

 

 

Sleepy head: Patient: “Doctor, as soon as I fall asleep, I start snoring.”  Doctor: “Is your snoring loud?”   ‘Yes, very loud.”   “Does your wife complain?”   “I’m not married.”   “Then your snoring is not really a problem.”   “The problem is that I have been fired from my last five jobs because of the snoring.” 

 

 

Poodle problem:  Two neighbours were arguing over their garden fence.  One shouted, “And keep your dog out of my shed, it’s full of fleas.” The other man looked at his dog and replied, “Do you hear that Fido? Keep out of his shed, it’s full of fleas.

 

 

Scattered evidence:  A Lawyer asked a woman; “Why didn’t you report the burglary when you first found everything turned inside out and things scattered everywhere?” “Because I thought my husband must have been looking for a clean shirt,” she replied.

 

 

Pilot problem:  A helicopter developed engine trouble and was forced to land on a remote Scottish island.  The pilot went to the nearest house to ask if there was a mechanic in the area?  The woman who answered the door replied, “No, we have a McKay, McIver and McArdie, but no McHanic.”

 

 

Not silent:  A telephone operator told a caller;  “I’m sorry, but the number you require is a silent number.” “No it’s not,” insisted the caller, “I’ve been there and heard it ringing.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saintly Fellowship

 

 

Many Christians will say they often receive more benefit from fellowship than from actual preaching! This is no reflection on the preacher of course; it simply shows how true it is that 'iron sharpens iron'. As a young Christian I remember an old elder who was much more familiar with Gaelic preaching [the language of the Scottish West Highlands] than English. Having heard an English sermon one night, he thought it had made no impact upon him - until later that evening, when, having spent it in fellowship where the sermon was discussed in detail, he was heard to comment: "I enjoyed that sermon more than I thought'!

 

 

What?

 

But what is Christian fellowship? Is it any different from a fellowship of doctors or teachers or any other body of like-minded people? How does it differ from a gathering of non-Christian friends? Surely it must mean more than meeting for a yarn. One element that makes it special is that those who delight in it have in common, not a thing but a personality - the Lord Jesus; a Personality and Being who is interested in them and all they say and do. And they have a mutual interest in Him and all that the Bible tells them about Him; what He did at the Cross and continues to do for them in the Gospel every day. So that when they meet in His name He has promised through His Word to be with them in and by His Spirit: "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I... " Matthew 18:20.

 

 

When?

 

Fellowship is important to young and old in the faith. It is one of the marks commended by the Bible, Malachi 3:16; Hebrews 10:25. Yet it's not something we practice naturally. It requires effort. We must work at it. One of the reasons for this difficulty is the hectic lifestyle many of us lead these days. Young Christians are not exempt from this, as those of you involved in various stages of study know full well! We can scarcely find quiet time with God far less a couple of hours with fellow-Christians. So we have to find and make time, even if it means sacrificing a favourite pastime, hobby or TV program! As someone once said: if you are too busy for God, you are too busy! Every Christian ought to have a regular diet of fellowship. To meet in the evenings after the preaching on the Lord's Day or in weekly Bible study meetings or informal gatherings at school or university goes a long way to meet this need.

 

 

Who?

 

Another important aspect of fellowship is a balance of ages. Young Christians like to be together. Perhaps you don't feel relaxed in the company of 'old fogies'. But it's as good to mix as it is to talk! There should always be a more mature Christian present when young Believers gather for fellowship. Certainly we want to meet with other Christians just to be with them, perhaps to discuss nothing in particular. But the examples of fellowship in the Bible indicate that it is a means used by God to teach and instruct us. As young Christians we make as many mistakes in our relationship with God as we do in everything else. So it's always good to have someone of experience on board to keep us right.

 

 

 

 

 

HOW?

 

Often it is through being in fellowship that we find our greatest encouragement’s. Preaching has one huge disadvantage - the talking is one-way traffic! I remember one minister some years ago being taken aback when a man sitting in the back pew attempted to answer a rhetorical question he raised in his sermon! Still, 1 am quite sure many of us would dearly like to ask in the course of a sermon, 'what do you mean; can you explain?' Many people are reluctant to ask for clarification etc. - even if opportunity did present itself. People don't want to sound foolish and ignorant. They might be afraid or embarrassed. Perhaps you are like that. If you are, remember that to be part of a fellowship you don't have to say anything: just listen. Let others do the talking. Quite often we may think ourselves to be unusual or odd due to some of the thoughts or feelings we have as Christians. But in fellowship, we can hear of others like ourselves and we realise our problem is more common than we thought. Sadly, much of our fellowship is time wasted. We may gather and talk, but so often the subject is of little profit to our souls. Christian fellowship by definition is Christ-centred. Whatever the topic of discussion, look at it in the light of what the Lord has to say in His Word. Only when He is to the fore in our thinking and discussions can fellowship be truly a delight and joy.

 

After all, that's how we shall spend eternity - in everlasting fellowship with God in Christ!

 

 

 

Faithful Peter

 

Peter was the son of a tribal chief who lived on the largest of the Solomon Islands, called Malaita.  His early life was in the dense forest of the island, where people lived in fear and danger.  The tribes people had grudges against each other and people were often speared or clubbed to death.

 

But Peter was able to visit Australia for a time and there he heard about the Lord Jesus and became a true disciple of the Lord and studied the Bible for a time.

 

When Peter set sail for his home island, the local chief said he would kill him if he set foot on shore. So he had to return to Australia by the same trading ship.  But he refused to accept defeat.  He went on the next vessel to sail. He landed at a nearby village where that chief was unfriendly and made him sleep under his house with the pigs. Peter was happy when he remembered that the Lord was born in a stable.

 

At last he arrived at his own village.  The people held a market every few days, so Peter took the opportunity to speak to the people about the Lord, but they would not listen.

 

Peter was forced to live in a little hut by himself near the shore for over four years.  From this hut he tried to preach Christ, but no one would listen.  His life was often threatened by armed men.  On one occasion a group of armed men came to shoot him.  Peter said he was not afraid to die, but if they did shoot him, he would go home to heaven.  As the men stood with their old muskets ready to shoot, a sudden violent thunderstorm came, and the powder in their old muskets became wet and would not fire.  The men were then sure that some Power was protecting Peter.

 

 Peter had a garden near his hut, which produced wonderful crops.  After four years there was a drought, and all the gardens failed except Peter’s garden, so the people began to think that there must be something in what Peter was saying.  Soon the children were allowed to come to him for instruction, then later the women began to attend, and finally the men came.

 

For ten years Peter laboured alone preaching the gospel.  He established a Christian village, and later when missionaries arrived in 1904 they found that Peter had two hundred people coming to the service every Lord’s day, and the gospel had spread far and wide from that village.  Even Peter’s mother and father and two brothers had become Christians. For a long time they had been very opposed to his preaching.

 

Peter had suffered great hardship, but he remained faithful to the Lord, and the Lord richly blessed his testimony and preaching.

 

 

The Dairyman’s Daughter

 

Elizabeth Wallbridge who has been known as the ‘Dairyman’s Daughter’, was born in a small country village in England in 1770.  Her parents were extremely poor, living in a small thatched cottage. Her father worked in a dairy, milking cows by hand, morning and night.

 

Elizabeth had very little knowledge or interest in the things of God.  Although she knew there was a God and did attend the local country church, she did not know the Lord Jesus as her Saviour or understand the Bible.

 

When she grew up, she found a position as a housemaid in a wealthy household.  Gradually she was able to save enough money to buy a new set of clothes of which she was very proud.  Her desire was to show all the neighbours her new clothes. 

 

At last she heard that a visiting preacher was to speak at the Church.  The preacher intended becoming a ship’s chaplain and to sail to various parts of the world, but as his ship had been delayed because of the weather, he was asked to preach.  Elizabeth thought that this was a good opportunity to wear her good clothes.

 

When she arrived at the church and saw the large crowd of people gathered, she felt very proud and looked to see if other people noticed her fine clothes.

 

At last the preacher announced his text: “Be clothed with humility.” 1 Peter 5:5. He explained that some people are only concerned about what they are wearing, and forget their souls which have none of those spiritual garments that God requires.            

 

He explained that we must be clothed with the garment of salvation, which is the righteousness of Christ.  As Elizabeth listened she felt ashamed of her pride in her fine clothes.  The preacher went on to speak of the various graces that God requires in our hearts – to be clothed with humility, to love Him with all our hearts, to trust in Christ alone for our salvation and many more.

 

As Elizabeth looked in her heart she saw none of these things, but she was filled with pride, ignorance, vanity and sin.

 

Many of the people who heard that sermon disliked the message, and said that they were very offended.  But Elizabeth took the words to heart, and began to read the Bible and to pray for salvation.

 

When some of her friends saw that she was concerned about her soul, they began to laugh and mock her, but Elizabeth continued to cry to the Lord and soon found mercy.

 

Elizabeth was able to lead her sister Betsy  and her father and mother to faith in Christ and to speak to others about the Lord.  She did not live a long life ; she was only thirty years old when she died, but she left behind a wonderful testimony of the Lord’s mercy and grace.

 

After she died, her minister, Legh Richmond, wrote her life story. He called the book, ‘The Dairyman’s Daughter’.  This book was translated in many languages, and millions of copies were made.  The Lord blessed that little book and many people came to know the Lord through reading it. 

 

Two days before Rev. Richmond died in 1837, two letters arrived telling him that they had come to know the Lord through reading his book.  Mr. Richmond was too weak to read the letters, so he asked his son to read them.  When he heard of the conversions he was filled with thankfulness to God.

 

 

An angel with a tract

 

Each Sunday afternoon a Christian man used to go out and distribute a number of gospel tracts.  But one Sunday it was raining and also he did not feel well.  His young son asked him, “Dad are you going to distribute the tracts today?”  “No son”, he replied, “it’s raining, so I won’t go”.  “Does God only save people when its not raining?” asked the son.

 

The father explained that he was not well and would not distribute tracts that day. “Then I will go” announced the son.  Soon he was back with his rain coat on and an umbrella. “Please give me the tracts.” he asked.  The father decided not to stop him, but told him to be careful and to be back early.

 

The son went off in high spirits, but there were very few people to be found.  He wandered from street to street, and gradually he gave away all his tracts except one.  He could not find any one to give it to.  At last he decided to knock on a door.  The person inside called out, “Who’s there?”. He waited, but no one came to the door, so he knocked again. “Who is it?” the person called.  He continued to knock.  At last a lady with a very distressed face appeared.  The boy’s heart was thumping, but he managed to smile. “Pardon me, but I’ve come to bring you the gospel.”  With that he handed the tract to the lady and ran home as quickly as he could.

 

Next Sunday the father was handing out the books at the door of the church when an elderly lady came.  She looked happy and told the people her story.  “Thank God! He sent a little angel to save me.  Last Sunday night in my loneliness, poverty and utter despair, having lost both my husband and my son, I planned to end my life by hanging myself. Suddenly there was a knock at my door. I wanted them to go away, but they kept knocking until I opened the door.  There stood a little angel with a bright face who gave me a gospel tract.  As I looked at it I knew that God had not forsaken me.  I could not keep back the tears, but confessed my sins and asked for pardon.  Praise the Lord! He saved me!”  The son whispered in his father’s ear, “She’s the lady I told you about.” The father then knew that God had used his son to find a lost sheep by giving out a tract.