[Rev. Carl M. Truesdale, in the Burlington (Wisconsin) Free Press]

That which is needful to full Christian living will be given to us if we ask. Health and strength equal to the tasks that come; forgiveness of our own sins and the will and power to forgive others as well as the will and the power to serve them; humility to know that we are His and that all we have is from Him, a trust; wisdom to use that trust rightly and well, sight to see beyond pettiness and failings and find the real value of neighbors; courage and faith to fulfill our tasks; and the certainty of God's love for all.

In a world that has been too busy to pray, men have forgotten that there is a way to set things right, that the power of prayer is beyond measure, and that the ear of the creator is never closed to the cry of those who petition in the name of His Christ.

As prayer again comes to take its place not only as the beginning and end of each man's day, but as an attitude of life (and that day is even now arriving), men will find themselves lifted clear of the fears and doubts that have beset them and dwelling as they did of old in a world which belongs to God.

[Rev. Benjamin E. Watson, as quoted in the Star News, Pasadena, California]

Jesus taught men to ask for the kingdom before they asked for daily bread! If happiness were dependent upon things, then people who can buy everything which money can buy would be the happiest. But they are not. The only really happy person is one who is free from fear, worry, envy, hate, selfishness, and one who is ruled by love. The person who has perfect trust in God and allows God to control his life may not have many material things, but he has peace and love in his heart.

[George McDonald, in the Mexico City Post, Mexico]

One does not have to know much about anything to know that wrong thinking brings bad results and brings them quickly. . . . Failure comes from wrong thinking; success comes from right thinking.

Now, what is right thinking? . . .

After about thirty years of speculating on the matter, as time permitted and under various and varying circumstances, meanwhile harking to the sages and reading with care and curiosity, I have decided that the philosophy practiced by some of the Christian Scientists I have known and know, comes pretty close to filling the bill for right thinking. Let me explain. . . .

I had heard that the Christian Scientists were wildeyed, and had expected to hear a ranting on the power of faith. Well, they have faith, all right, but . . . they do not proselytize. Their philosophy, although rich in its literature and abreast of the times in development and application to both general and specific cases, is surprisingly simple: wrong thinking causes mental and physical ill-health; right thinking makes one mentally happy and physically healthy. They say that to think right merely means to drop those mental approaches we instinctively know are bad and, instead, . . . direct thought along the obvious paths of truth and cheerfulness. To go no further right here, the foregoing statements are plain fact. One does not have to be a Christian Scientist (I am not) to realize their truth. Every doctor, whatever his religion, if any, knows what the wrong kind of thinking will do to a patient's physical health; he knows that long-continued wrong thinking often has led to criminality or insanity. And, just for you: haven't you had a headache or other severe pain disappear under the influence of joy—unexpected dropping in of a loved friend, say?

I suppose there are fanatics among the Christian Scientist as well as in other organizations, although I have not met one yet myself. But I do know that it is a broad faith. I am told one does not have to be long on believing every last thing—belief in an almighty power will do. You see, Christian Scientists are . . . more on the side of us getting the real things out of life—not forgetting plenty of decent fun.

[Nelson Miles Heikes, in the Granite State News, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire]

What could be more natural than for a child to talk to its father and mother, or for the father and mother to talk with the child? What could be more natural than for man to talk to God and for God to talk with man? Prayer is much more than requests for a new car, a larger farm, or even for better health. . . . It is not the bending of God's will in order that we may receive, but it is the bending of our will to God's will. Jesus understood this perfectly when he said, "Not my will, but thine, be done." When we bend our will to that of God, it is then that prayer reaches its climax of prevailing with God. How do you pray? Is it with the thought that God knows best?

[Rev. H. E. Marshall, as quoted in the News-Press, St. Joseph, Missouri]

Is your life, by its radiation of real good cheer and good will, bearing testimony to your friendship with the Master? . . . Consider the power to make men happy, to win influence, to make life worth living to others, that lies in such an attitude. . . .

One of the central tests of any character is the nature of its pleasures. What do you real joy? Jesus enjoyed nature and friendship and social life, and so should we. Jesus loved good health and spent much of his time healing the bodies of men.

When we give up an immediate pleasure for character's sake, we are impressed with how much we have sacrificed. Jesus was impressed with how much a man had gained.

Consider what you have gained by any sacrifice you ever made for character. The approval of God through conscience, the satisfaction of overcoming your moral enemy, the greater power to conquer the next time, the approbation of those who care most for you, increased power of usefulness to others. How much more have you gained than you sacrificed? Ought not all such sacrifice be made with joy? Nobody ever found any real, solid, and permanent satisfaction in doing wrong.

[J. L. Newland, in the Frederick (Oklahoma) Leader]

Success, like a good many other things, beings at home. It lies within you. It is an inward growth which has its outward manifestation. It is not accretion, but development.

Success does not mean acquistion of wealth, or ascendancy to power, or public recognition of merit. All these things may be incident to it. They may be the legitimate fruits of a successful career. But they are only incidents—not success itself. Success means happiness. It means the abundant life. It means usefulness. It means work, preparation, patience, fitness for advancement. Jesus said that the chief among men would be the one who rendered the greatest service. Herein lies the keynote and the definition of success, which, after all, is the highest development of one's talents. Jesus gave us the picture of two successful men and one failure in his parable of the talents. The two who had developed their talents were worthy of higher labors—greater joys, larger dominion. That is success. And there is no real success in any other way.

[C. Allen, in the Neosho (Missouri) Daily Democrat]

Every man has within himself godliness; our trouble so much of the time is, we do not let it radiate from us to the fellow. Do you practice godliness in your daily business or profession? Do you have the full respect of your client or customer? Do you radiate good honest dealings up to the point where people desire to consult or deal with you? Wake up your consciousness to the fact that godliness is the best salesman you will ever have and allow this salesman to open your door to a greater success than you ever before have enjoyed.

When in doubt consult your Bible, the one book with all the true rules.

[Editorial in the Phoenix (Arizona) Gazette]

Our own choice of outlook on life is responsible for the type of progress we make and will determine in a great measure the heights we reach in achievement. A contented one, free from personal contention, will be more receptive to beneficial influences.

Be satisfied with the things that you now have, secretly striving to better yourself, and without a doubt you will find the joy you seek. Remember it is up to you to choose your own state of mind which governs your daily happiness.

[Rev. Thomas W. Toler, as quoted in the Star, Kansas City, Missouri]

We can never heal humankind by simply treating the symptoms; we must strike at the very roots of the cause. God has given us a divine demonstration of what love can do by sending His Son. This is the primary business of the church, to heal sick men with the gospel of love.

[From the Herald, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada]

Christ [Jesus] showed us plainly and definitely what the Father's business is. He brought joy to the sad; he gave comfort where there was none; he brought hope to many a hopeless one; he did many a kindly action. There is no selfishness nor seeking after material gain in going about the Father's business, as there is in going after our own business. If we combine the two we shall find that doing the Father's business helps us immensely in our own business. It creates within us the spirit of Christ, bringing a richer contentment to what we gain by strictly following our own business without giving a thought to "the Father's business." Is not this neglected, absorbed as we are with our own pursuits?

[Sam Fulton, President of the Fulton Manufacturing Company, as quoted in the Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin]

What business needs today is unadulterated Christianity, and what capital and labor need is the Christian gospel to melt away their disputes and bring harmony and understanding.

[Rev. W. Phin Gillieson, as quoted in the Ayrshire Post, Ayr, Scotland]

I think a great deal of Christian Science, which teaches . . . that a healthy mind produces a healthy body.