Our hearts were saddened to hear that Sister Essie Goodwin, for many years a member of Landmark church, had gone on to be with the Lord. It was on the morning of May 31 that the summons came. There is comfort in the assurance that she is now beyond the reach of sorrow and pain -- promoted to an infinitely better realm of eternal life, health, joy and peace in the presence of the Lord Whom she loved so dearly.
    It was in the humble home of the Alfred Goodwin's that we held our first services when coming to Rockford 24 years ago. And through the succeeding years they have become increasingly dear to us; to both the pastor's family and the church.
    To the family we extend our most earnest sympathy and love in this hour of sadness and loss. May the sufficiency of divine grace, by which you are sustained through this experience, strengthen your faith and deepen your committment to Him whom she both loved and served with a faithful heart. E.G.
"Blessed are they that die in the Lord ... that they may rest from their labors", (Rev. 14:13).

    From time to time someone inquires whether it is really POSSIBLE to know that one is saved. It is with joy and confidence that I am able to answer in the affirmative. "Yes, it is not only POSSIBLE, but needful that one who is really trusting in Jesus have this assurance."
    One entire book of the Bible was written to give believers such assurance. Thus, one who trusts in Jesus as a personal Sin-bearer and Saviour may indeed have the assurance that he IS SAVED -- that he has already passed "out of death into life".
    Basically, we may know that we are saved (provided we ARE trusting wholly in Jesus Christ) by:
    1. The testimony of God's Word, (I Jn. 5:13; Jn. 3:16, 36; 5;24; 6:47).
    2. The testimony of the lives we are living (I Jn. 3:14; 4:7, 16-19).
    3. The testimony of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who are truly yielded to the lordship of God's dear Son, (Rom. 8:16; Eph. 1:13-14; Gal. 4:6).
    YOU may have this assurance by unwavering trust in God & His Word.

    A letter has just been received from missionary Lonnie C. Ford -- announcing their arrival and wonderful reception in Hawaii. Bro. Ford has spent most of the month of May visiting among supporting churches in the islands.
    By this time the Ford Family should be settled into their new home on the island of Kauai - where they will be laboring with a mission. A man of out-going love, and unflagging zeal, we expect to hear of great manifestations of divine blessings on his labors.
    It is this editor's belief that Bro. Ford is a man who is worthy of the prayers and financial support of the Lord's people everywhere. A 6-month lease, on the only house available on the island, requires $390 monthly. His address is:
    Lonnie C. Ford
    Routel, Box 289 A-20
    Kapaa, (Kauai) Hawaii 96746.

    As one carefully examines the Word of God it will be evident that Jesus and His apostles were all concerned with various motivations for discipline -- both for individuals and churches, (Matt. l:l5-20; I Cor. 5:1-13; Rom. 16:17; Gal. 2:11-21; 6:1; 2 Thes. 3:6-16; I Tim. 1:19-20; 5:19-22; Titus 3:10-11).
    An analogy of these passages will reveal at least six basic reasons for the practice of discipline:
    1. Our wise and loving Lord has commanded it.
    2. It is necessary to the redemption of an erring brother -- suggesting that it is designed to be "remedial" rather than "punitive".
    3. Without it sinners, though saved by grace, will never BECOME a HOLY church. The purity of the body requires it.
    4. Its exercise makes the witness of the church more effective; stewards of the mysteries of godliness ought to live in such a way as to manifest true Christlikeness.
    5. The positive, beneficial effect of humiliation involved in its exercise -- both on the body and the one disciplined is desirable to aid the spiritual development of all, (2 Cor. 12:19-21).
    6. Finally, the church that does not follow God's order will be rejected of its Lord.
    Discipline is indispensible in the proper development and maturing of both the individual and the body of Christ. Its rejection, or simple neglect, will be to the eternal impoverishment of both.      E.G.

    In Matthew 7:l3-27 the Master Teacher makes the practical application of His Sermon the mount. He presses upon His disciple the importance of choosing wisely in view of the coming kingdom of righteousness.
    Let it be remembered that this entire sermon is addressed to the Lord's own people. It sets the principles of righteousness designed to characterize both His people and kingdom. God has made man FREE -- giving him both the ability and responsibility to choose "wisdom" and to reject "folly". Man is constantly facing a cross-roads. He is confronted with the necessity of deciding; nor can there be any progress until the choice is made and carried out.
    The truly great men of history have been those who were able to impress upon the hearts and minds of others the eternal significance of RIGHT decisions (Deut. 30:l5-20; Josh. 24:15 Jer. 21:8). Jesus is here calling for nothing less thanTOTAL COMMITTMENT to the kingdom of God. In doing so He set forth three basic things that must claim our attention:
    1. Two WAYS are open before us (vs. 13-14).
    2. Two PERILS must be faced for all who travel the road of life (vs. 15-23).
    3. There are two FOUNDATIONS on which men may build, (vs. 24-27).
    There is a vast difference in the TWO WAYS between which men must ultimately CHOOSE. One is hard; the other easy. One is long; the other

an apparent short-cut. One is disciplined; the other disorderly. One is thoughtful and wise; the other thoughtless and foolish. To use Jesus' own terms: one is "strait" and the other "broad".
    The Master definitely points the way: "Enter ye in at the strait gate", (Matt. 7:13; Prov. 4:26-27; 9:6). Such as would follow the Master's direction must leave both the WORLD and SELF behind. Because it is the way of the few, one who enters may expect times of loneliness, suffering and persecution -- clear on down to the end.
    Nor must one assume that he is already on the "narrow way" simply because he is saved; the Master is calling His own disciples to ACTION -- to a definite decision and commitment. Luke records His saying as: "STRIVE to enter in at the strait gate", (Lk. 13:24). It is a strong word that Jesus uses -- elsewhere translated by "fight" and "labor fervently", (Jn. 10:36; Col. 1:24-29; 4:12; I Tim. 6:12). He had already commanded them to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness", (Matt. 6:33). Here He gives direction as to HOW that may be done -- by committing themselves to walk in the path (and under the principles) that He has ordered.
    The urgency of a right choice is stressed because there is but ONE WAY that leads to fulness of life in the kingdom of God; and there are but a few who find it. The way of destruction is deceptively alluring. The gate is wide. The way is broad. Multitudes are pressing onto it.

    In reality the Master is actually saying: "YOU don't have it made, yet!" This is NOT to suggest that saved men may lose their salvation; all who believe in Jesus ARE SAVED FOREVER! But men MAY forget that they were ever purged from their old sin -- so as to lose the JOY of salvation. The saving experience does NOT guarantee an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God. Fulness of life, in God's kingdom, requires more than a mere passive ASSUMPTION that all is ours because we have once believed. The Word of God teaches that we must "labor" if we would enter into the blessedness of God's "rest", (Heb. 4:11). And there must be some definite spiritual development, (2 Pet. 1:5-11).

    A telephone call from Pastor Reed Williams informs us that the Banner MBC, of Avondale, Colorado, has established a Passage Fund for Missionary Edgar Potter & Family.
    Should you like to contribute to this fund, you may make your checks payable to the Banner Missionary Baptist Church (specifying that it is for the "Passage Fund"). Send to:
        Kenneth McCombs
        930 34th Lane
        Pueblo, CO 81OO6.
    Sponsorship of the Potter's proposed mission work in the Madeira Islands is from the church in Santa Cruz, Brazi1 where Bro. Steve Montgomery is the Missionary-Pastor.


    Missionaries Elkins and Sullivan are both facing special trials in their labors among the Japanese People. It is not the nature of either to "complain", or to ask for special help. Nor do I mean to imply that their need is only material. It is such an hour as the people of God need to be lifting up holy hands unto the Lord in agonizing prayer. He knows, and CARES! And He would like His people to be more concerned -- so concerned as to gladly share the burdens of men who have manifested both faithfulness and diligence in the face of such circumstances as would have, long ago, overwhelmed less stable souls.
    Let us remember these and all who faithfully stand for God and truth.