[From the Mt. Horeb Mail, Wisconsin]

When an outstanding figure in the field of medical research comes out flatly and declares that prayer has power to heal bodily ills, it is something to pay attention to. Dr. Alexis Carrel, world-famous surgeon of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research and winner of the Nobel prize in medicine, says in his new book, "Man, the Unknown," writing as a medical man: "Our present conception of the influence of prayer upon pathological lesions is based upon the observation of patients who have been cured almost instantly of various afflictions.... The only condition indispensable to the occurrence of the phenomenon is prayer. But there is no need for the patient himself to pray, or even have religious faith. It is sufficient that someone around him be in a state of prayer."

I have been greatly impressed by the growing belief in the power of prayer to heal. Dr. Carrel's words will go far to confirm believers in their faith.

[S. A. Campbell, in the Three Lakes News, Wisconsin]

I have come to the conclusion, from my own experience, that rest is not found in sitting still, doing nothing, lying down, or sleeping. Rest is found in that silent, receptive movement when some intense inner voice whispers, "All is well." Refreshment and renewal of energy spring from realization of plan and purpose to life. It is the hopelessness of mortal thought which wears one out—the thought of man being "of few days, and full of trouble." But when the thought is purified, even momentarily, of subtle sin and dark fear, that it may conceive spiritual existence as the eternal reality, while mortal existence is but the testimony of inadequate senses—then comes the quickening sense which wipes "away all tears," bringing rest in greater activity. It is in the mental realm that repose must come, and a realization of a moment of truth will have more resuscitating power than endless hours of slumber.

[Rev. James Reid, D. D., in the British Weekly, London, England]

The first step in any trouble is to rest our faith in God. Whatever our condition, we can begin there. We can come with our weakness, our blindness, our failure, and put our whole tangled life into His hands. We may not get much further than that to begin with. But we will get rest for our souls. And that is the first necessity of life, if we are to see clearly and act wisely. When the ship that was taking St. Paul to Rome got into difficulties, he was the one man who kept his head.... It was he who saved the ship's company from disaster. His secret was that his own spirit was rooted in God. "Sirs, be of good cheer," he cried, "for I believe God." He had the peace which makes a man free from panic and which gives the courage that does not fear. That kind of courage is the only kind which can really help others. For it springs from an inner peace that no threat of trouble can destroy. The root of peace, and the wisdom and courage that come from it, is to have faith in God.

When we know God, His very name is a strong tower. The sound of it brings peace and calm. But faith in God must be intelligent. It is not merely a soothing charm for the troubled mind.

To have faith in God means to have faith in God's guiding. It means seeking His direction. It is the conviction that His way is right. It demands that we humble our pride and are ready to learn from Him.... Faith in God means seeking to find His way. That is the one road of deliverance. It is the one way out of the tangle of troubles and perplexities. Faith in God begins when we ask the old question, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" But faith in God means also faith in His power. We often forget that God has power. He can change situations for those who put them into His hand... Miracles still happen. The providence of God is a fact. Many who have trusted God in a day of despair have found that He works for those who trust Him. We must keep open the door for what we call miracles.

The most effective forces in the world are love and righteousness. If we look back, we shall find that those who have counted most in making a better world have not been kings or conquerors. They have been like St. Francis, who carried nothing in his heart but love; or Livingstone, who, with only the gospel, went into a jungle and made it a home; or Florence Nightingale, who followed the track of war with the spirit of healing. Forgiveness, not force, was the weapon with which Christ [Jesus] faced his enemies. The real test of our faith may be whether or not we are ready to see in his spirit the power of God and to trust it. It may be to that kind of faith that god is calling us today.

[Albert Sidney Lehr, in the Missouri School Journal, St. Louis, Missouri]

What we need above all else is the courage and daring to launch out into the deep—into the deep waters of spiritual faith and adventure. Never can we know our strength or test our skill while clinging to the shore or wading in the shallow waters of our neighborhood pond like fearful children, afraid to venture beyond our depth. Never can we learn to swim while even one foot clings to the ground.

The brave and skillful swimmer gained his mastery not by hugging the shore, nor in the safe waters not yet beyond his depth, but by launching out into the perilous deep that called him and challenged him. He scorned to play safely in the shallow waters near the shore. He moved on step by step, deeper and deeper, until neither foot could touch the ground. Then ... he launched out into the deep, wide sea.

So must we all launch out into the deep, shoreless seas of reality, if life and the world we live in are to be worth while. "Be not afraid!" must be the keynote of our adventure. We must not be afraid to quit the safe but sterile waters of our back-yard ponds and launch out into the deep, where living is ... glorious. They only truly live who risk all for God and for Truth.

Be not afraid! Launch out into the deep.

[From the Daily News-Morning Press, Santa Barbara, California]

No part of the Christian teaching is so universally accepted as the Lord's Prayer. It matters not how many denominations there may be of the Christian belief or how they are separated by doctrinal differences, all are united in accepting this prayer and making it the standard of their appeal to God. It is repeated so frequently by Christians that its utterance becomes almost, if not quite, an automatic act. It is learned by most children when they are so young, and repeated so frequently thereafter, as to become a fixed habit with most Christians.

We have become so accustomed to repeat the words of this prayer that the question is many times raised in thoughtful minds as to whether or not we are properly impressed with its meaning, or sense the duty and responsibility this meaning imposes upon us. The injuction of the Master was that "after this manner" shall we pray. We are not commanded to repeat the exact words used. We are all conscious that something more than the repetition of words is necessary to constitute an effective prayer.

The Gospels and epistles abound in condemnation of those who indulge in vain repetition of words in the form of prayers. Such prayers are vain if they degenerate into a formal repetition of words that do not give expression to a very deep-seated and profound feeling and yearning of the soul and life of man. This charge would hold against an unfeeling repetition of the Lord's Prayer, as well as against any other indifferent repetition of words that were not the expression of a deep moving of man's inner feeling and life toward God. Neither the Lord's Prayer nor any other repetition of words ... will be of any benefit to anyone unless ... prompted by an earnest desire for communion with God, and for the ministration of His spirit.

[Dr. B. Z. Stambaugh, as quoted in the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio]

Our Lord's chief opponents were people who prayed a great deal—the Romans and the Pharisees. The trouble was that they prayed to the wrong gods in the wrong spirit. Jesus did not need to urge his disciples to pray, but he had to caution them against the wrong kind of praying. For personal prayer he urged secrecy. For common prayer he gave a model form in the Lord's Prayer. Much modern praying is exactly what Jesus warned against. Prayer is not a means of persuading God to do what He would not do otherwise. Prayer is being conscious of the presence of God. It is divine companionship. Even more important is the function of prayer as a means of taking in the thought of God—listening as well as speaking. It is a means of putting ourselves on God's side. It is not wrong to pray regularly and often. It is wrong not to love God and man. If you love God you will want to be in His presence—so you will pray. If you love your neighbor you will need the help of God to fulfill that loving-kindness—so you will pray.

[W. C. Hartson, in the Herald, Alhambra, California]

Sometimes at the parting of friends one of them sincerely says, "May God go with you." If the one who speaks those words entertains the wish literally conveyed by them, it would mean that God should adapt Himself or accommodate His presence to the wavering course of the individual. If, however, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then the wish would be better expressed by saying, "May you go with God." ... If we are to enjoy God's companion-ship at all we must make up our minds to go His way. Trying to persuade Him to change His plan to conform to our ... desire is the motive behind the familiar form of beseeching, pleading prayer. That's why some prayers are not answered.

[Rev. Robert Cummins, as quoted in the Star-News, Pasadena, California]

Religion, to be vital, must have something very specific to say to the whole of life, the economic order, the social order, and the political order. But views differ with differing individuals; and my views may vary from yours. Yet to achieve those views with open minds and without prejudice, looking always to the welfare of all and not the welfare of the privileged few, and yet to live together in peace and within the bond of human helpfulness, this, by all rights, is the mission of the church.