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Fbrwarding Agent
MRS.AU^ R.NICHOLS
116-36th. Street
Tfllai Chiengkam,
Chanqwat Chioigrei,
Thailand,Asia
Mllwaukie,Oregon
Ul&A.
APRIL, 1960
DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP -
The flames from the funeral pyre leaped high into the air. The kerosene ignited the straw and the straw slowly caught fire to the logs* On top this wooden alter was the remains of a man, soaked in kerosene and now blazing with
flame. Once again a scene was being enacted which every
man must face alone*
Three years ago Mr. Ban came to the leper village, for saken by his wife, three boys and one girl. In the bitter
ness of social ostracism and heathen darkness and now in
the lowly role of a leper, he prepared to live out the re mainder of his life. Hopeless and bitter in spirit, he
started to attend services with the other Christians of
the village.
fully attended all the schools and services. His eyes were opened, his heart wanned and life took on a new mean ing. During those years he suffered much from the effects
of leprosy but he remained steadfast in his faith.
Three weeks ago I attended services at the leper vil lage where Mr, Ban delivered the morning message. He
spoke simply and from his heart. His love for the Lord
was single.
burial if they would be allowed to bum the body. Thus in death Mr. Ban gave a clear testimony of that eternal
life which is in Christ. attentive. The relatives were sober and
of the funeral pyre. After reading a scripture and sing ing a song, we were constrained to allow the family to do as they pleased,. The body was rolled out of the crude box onto the rough logs. A coconut was cracked
open and the sweet milk poured out on the face of the
deceased in preparation for his burning. All of his clothes and personal belongings, which were few, were scattered out upon the logs. The oldest son calmly
ignited the pyre end soon the flames roared. Quietly and reverently the oldest son stood before the blazing sacri fice and softly spoke a final farewell to his father,
"Go quickly," he repeated, "go quickly father - the flames are leaping high now, father - go - go quickly and
safely and have peace."
own thoughts. There was no wailing, no weeping, no remorse, only a deep respect for death, that mysterious something which renders a man lifeless; that which every man must face alone0 The glory and majesty of a man reduced to
decay and ashes.
ADULT CLASS AT THE LEPER SCHOOL
Rli
thing terrible has happened? Why the fear, the uncer tainty, the hopelessness? Are we prepared for death or us? Do we believe that though a man die, yet shall he
not? Has Jesus become the "resurrection and life" to
The inevitability of death is always ascribed to the other person but not to oneself. Yet as one man has said, "To be bom is to begin to die." Whence then all astonishment when death appears? Why do we think some
wonder at the Christians* concept of death. To die is a money-making business in the States and Christians have been beguiled into its subtle deceit*
As I observed the smoke rise from the funeral pyre, I found a strange spirit dwelling in my heart. The sons took poles and poked at the body of their father that the corpse might bum more readily, I felt no remorse nor
pity, only peace for Mr, Ban had already taken a journey none of us knew about. True, I had preached about it
many times, but now this lowly leper knew so much more about it than I, He had gone on before us, and now await
ed us - even beckoned us to come, I could almost hear
his voice calling, "Come; the journey is not hard. It is not long. It is like you taught us, teacher, Jesus is
Truly, to die well requires more moral stamina than to live well. Are you prepared to die?
Recently a group of eminent doctors were asked to
a person who is hopelessly sick be told that he is going to die in just a few weeks? Or should people be spared this terrifying thought? Yet who of us is not dying?
Does a postponement of death by medicine, doctors and science give us cause to believe that we shall never die? It is the cunning of Satan who tries to soften
has died - and is dying moment by moment - and whose Ufe is now being lived by the resurrected life of Jesus Christ, This man has peace. He has passed from death
761.72
40,00
150.00
10.00 22.52
20.00 186.19
20,00
12.00
10.00 45.95
Englewood Christian Church, Illinois. Loyal Partners Class, Ky. Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Morgan
Church of Christ, Garibaldi Scotia Christian Church, Cal......... Intermediate Class, Sweet Home
Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Shields Friend
42.50
5.00
25.00
35.00 30.00
100.00
20.00
926.23
$1,687.95
DISBURSEMENTS - NOVEMBER & DECEMBER:
Household
74.93
114.11
284.86
$1,403.09
\4
fbrwarding Agent
MRSALLEN R.NICHOLS 116 -3tt) Street
Talai Chlenqkam,
Chant^wat Chiengrai,
Thailand,Asia
Mllwaukie, Oregon
USA.
Vol.
13
August, 1960
No, 2
with their dip nets while the men wade out and drive the fish into a shallow comer of the flooded area.
It is a rare fish that ever escapes this thronging mass. As they close in on the trapped fish there is much noise and excitement. Now end then a yell goes up as a school of fighting fish are encountered. The men take a deep breath, duck under the water trying to get hold of the trapped fish in their baskets. Once
caught until the cold fishermen emerge from the water one by one and proudly display their catch which dangles heavily at their side. Some of the more in dividualistic fishermen go along in boats using throw
nets while others still prefer the old hook and bait
method.
big fish left in the rivers. Nevertheless, the people seem to think it is worthwhile just to be able to go
out once or twice a year and clean them out.
Shaking from the cold, these fishermen decide to take time out. They build a fire, exhibit their catch and swap stories about the big one that got away, after the manner of all fishermen. Here you can also see the wicker baskets which they plunge up and down while wad ing through the water.
They love
to fish. They enjoy working together. They find pleas ure in collecting into small groups and just talking as
I^rhaps if Jesus were here He
would walk up to this little group and find a Peter, a John, an Andrew. From such a group of common men He would call forth an evangelist, a writer, an elder.
The Thai as a rule do not express themselves. It is difficult to know what they feel and think. Sometimes their reaction to the Gospel appears almost indifferent. Occasionally I however, one is rewarded with a quiet un
expected testimony which gives expression to their heart and experience in the Christian faith. Here are some of
the believers and their remarks,
Mr. Chanta; "Thank and my people - the in a letter written knows what it means
ness.
you, teacher, for bringing to me light," This was expressed to me by this former witch doctor who to be captivated by spiritual dark
Uncle Ban;
disturbed over the agitation caused by pressure from denominational bodies. Invariably he drops around for reassurance by asking the same questions, "Teacher,
are you sure the Bible teaches us that we can stand
free in Christ and we don't have to join this group or that. Is it all right just to belong to Christ and Him alone?" I would always go over the same answers and he would depart, happy and reassured with these
dition of his own people, he would shake his head slowly and say, "Truly, my people are in darkness."
Mr, Awn;
In preaching and
Miss Moon: Is a young Christian girl who in respond ing to a question after her baptism beamed, "Yes,
teacher, now I am happy,"
Mr. Jala; An elderly man living in one of the outly ing villages. He never seemed to give much expression to his faith He was always more than willing to do all that the Lord required of him. One day after sit ting on his porch in silence for some time, he offered this simple unexpected testimony and expression of appreciation, "Ever since I became a Christian I have been happy."
Mr. En Ban; After hearing the Gospel for the first time this former Buddhist priest exclaimed, "I was in the Buddhist priesthood for 7 years and I never heard anything like this," Later, after he had received Christ and was baptised he testified, "I never knew
that life in Christ could be so wonderful,"
Mr. En Ban*s house is located directly across from the Buddhist temple. He no longer desires to be so close to the beating drums and senseless worship but
feels this is the role God has chosen for him.
One day he got the inspiration to write his testi mony on the wall of his porch so that all who visited his house would know that he is a believer. Some of
the villagers could not read magic words to bring a curse just across the street. The of the District Magistrate.
and thought he had written upon the temple located complaint reached the ears One day he, along with the
come and the witness was clear. They could both read so they quietly pondered the words inscribed upon the wall. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature,
Recently as we meet for Bible study in his home, some of the villagers have taken to throwing rocks at us. After a discussion on the matter, 1^, En Ban
$1,403.09
50.00
60.00
Mr. & Mrs. C. Lloyd Hosman Ladies* Group, Greenwood Ch., Seattle
Maltnomah Church of Christ Trent Church of Christ
26.50 15,00
550.00 100.00
Milwaukie Youth Group Women's Christian Union, Ky Church of Christ, Garibaldi First Christian Church, Roseburg,... Mr. 5i Mrs. Jay C. Shields
Mrs. Larry Copenhaver Burton Brair Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Lesemann Loyal Ladies* Class, Milwaukie
Vermont Hills Church of Christ
50.00
20.00 28.81 5.00
50.00
$3,358.43
$4,761.52
581.42
259.15 34.00
school books & supplies for chi Idren ) Film and pictures
104.65
250.85
$4,761.i52
Motorcycle (freight, reg, and pur chase - made possible through
Miltnomah & Milwaukie churches)., $ 651.71
Gas and oil 18.38
547.00 87.90
Total ...
$1,562.29
Mailed by
Mrs. Allen R. Nichols 116 36th Street
Milwaukie, Oregon
Return Postage Guaranteed
^V\3o 3
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inyoubefbrefhe'ireyesT
^Uishedand mailedfreeby
MEL and JUNE BYCRS
FbrwardinQ Aqrr'
MRSALLEN R.NICHOU 116-96ih Street
Tala-t Chln^km,
Chan^wat Chtengrviy
Thailand,Asia
Milwaukta,Oregon
US.A.
December, 1960
V/here darkness
v/onderful: :
heaven and could reverently whisper "wonderfuli'* It has also been recorded in days gone by that certain men and women had the emotional balance and genuine
r
(A young Christian mother and her baby)
capacity to kneel in breathless amazement beside the man ger of Jesus. God's gift to man! ^Jhat a glorious inno cence! 0 beautiful simplicity! 0 how v^onderful! The
lost the capacity as human beings to be stirred? Can we no longer marvel and behold with abated breath the gift of God*s Son? Can we no longer reflect upon the manger scene and with the simplicity of a child exclaim,"wonderful!"
is recorded that they fell down and worshipped, "Won derful!" Mary's heart was overwhelmed and she burst forth in song and magnified the lord, "Wonderful!" Zacharias could no longer constrain himself and cried
out, "blessed be the Lord God of Israel." "Wonderful!"
Simeon had been waiting many years for the consolation of Israel to appear. Now the long vigil had ended. Trem bling, he took the babe into his arms, and through eyes
dimmed with tears he turned his face heavenward and
blessed God, "- - novr let thy servant depart in peace mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." Wonderful! Wonder ful! These people had the strange capacity "to stand
amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene", They had enough genuine emotion to bow down before the gift
of God in breathless adoration.
no longer exclaim, 'Htonderful"? Have we become depraved in our taste for excitement? No longer are we thrilled
er respond to the marvels of existence, but rather we prefer to stand amazed in the presence of our own inven
tions,
Ife behold the fantastic achievements of the UNIVAC brain machines and we say, "Wonderful!" We look into
a table thumping, saber rattling dictators as they make their bid for a world. We read stories, we watch TV, and exercise our imagination until the most sordid, cruel and abnormal concoctions of man's brain no longer excite
and we exclaim, "What a dull world," Our senses have been so blunted by the thrill and excitement of this
in a stable no longer has the slightest appeal. The pageants are beautiful, Santa Glaus is exciting, the merriment is refreshing, but the fact that God sent His Son into the world is extremely dull.
IXiring the Christmas season we often hear words like
will adom houses where the name of Jesus is blasphemed. Christians and unbelievers alike will fall subject to
the same pattern. The beautiful strains of "Silent
Night" will come pouring out of the beer tavern's juke box and places of amusement. These cheap tinsel gods of an American Christmas with its thin bubble of holiday gaiety will never cause men to glorify God! It will never cause men to stand in fear and trembling! Alas, and in all Israel, no one cried, "Wonderful!" 0 that men once again had the capacity to be amazed - the human ability to be thrilled and cry, "WonderfuU.Won---.
derful! Wonderful!" All heaven strains to hear one
astonished believer who will in the stillness of the night cry, "Wonderful!"
The unbelieving
to bewitch the gift shoppers to do more buying. Greedily he reaches for the dollars of the Christian. He rings
the bells on his cash register in celebration of the
biggest profit making hoax in history. "Wonderful", he exclaims as he stands amazed in his own profit. "Glory to God in the highest!" May the iiQrth of the poor Chris
tianas Christ ever live! Without the Christ child
blaspheme the babe of Bethlehem, These carnal festiv ities and making merchandise of God*s Son has seeped
into the remote comers of the earth. Its abuse and
corrupt practice causes the unsuspecting Chinese mer chant to hang Santa Glaus on the cross for a window display and the naive Thai Christian to ask for a Bible
reference of the Christmas tree.
correct these carnal festivities? God give us the moral courage to withdraw from these pagan rites, its false gaiety, its gaudiness, its money spending, its noisy festivities. Let us withdraw quietly, purposefully, into the seclusion of our home and the few holidays which have been given to us. Tear off the tinsel and
sham, dress in sackcloth and ashes, spread yourself out before God and weep for the desolation of America. Through
repentance and waiting before God, look to the heavens
let your ears become sensitive again to the glory and praise of the heavenly host.
Identify yourself with the honest intellect of men who
are truly wise. Identify yourself with simple, quiet folk like Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and Simeon the prophet. Enter into the quietness of Bethlehem and gaze upon your God who came in the flesh of a tiny babe. Once again behold that wisdom, that unutterable wisdom
(^ce
once again our worldly eyes would weep, that once again
we could cry from the depths of our soul, "Wonderful! Wonderful!! Wonderful !!! Mighty God! Prince of Peace! Jesus Thou Son of God! Ify Saviour!"
BOUND BY TIME -
and ETERNITY
1961
Today there are many who would gladly yield to the peaceful, quiet arms of death as they seek release from
pain, loneliness and the dreadful confusion of this age - - only to awaken in hell where DEATH is always just
beyond their reach for STESNITY!
Today TIME is lilce a small flame patiently devour ing the fuse of life, working its way toward a destiny.
It is a passing, fleeting phenomena - - and in its wake are the ashes of history.
Another year is
ashes of yesterday. Alas, a little more strength has seeped out of our earthly bodies, the spring of life
has unwound a little more, the erosion of time a little
more pronounced. The youthful grasp of time has re leased its hold a little more and yielded to the inev itable urgings of ETERNITY, Today we are here - in TIME. Tomorrow, we shall be gone - in ETERNITY.
Today let us live with our eyes set on things eternal in Christ, May we live soberly, pray earnestly, live abundantly and share with us in the evangelization of Thailand, That old and young alike may come to realize that they are not just bound by the deceptions of TIME but by the realities of God's Word, they are children
of an everlasting destiny in ETERNITY,
$1,562.29
-Imogene V/illiams
Koinonia (Willamette) Rockwood Christian Church
Trent Church of Christ
$ 250.80
25.00 15,00
288,85
286,50
87,00
Court Street Church, Salem Mr. & I3rs, Jay C. Shields Inglewood lleights Church, Cal Cliurch of Christ, Ashland Milwaukie Youth Group Church of Christ, llealdsburg. Gal,.. Rockaway Christian Church
Gorbett Christian Church
Church of Christ, Garibaldi Bryce & Shirley Jessup Christian Church, El Centre, Gal.,,. Church of Christ, Milwaukie Mrs, 0, E, Hobart Ron Parrish Elrnira Church of Christ
30,00
10,00
10,43
15,00
2,202,09
$3,764,38
two rooms
$ 384,92
Food
Correspondence - includes books for children
303,01
161,53
9,01
24,32
73,53
115,43
Photo-lith Go, & Mailing Taxes - Wi Ne Ida lot Life & Casualty Union
Total
$ 2,495,78