Jonathan Goforth – birth, Feb. 10, 1859

Jonathan Goforth was born this date, 2/10/1859, on his father’s farm near Thorndale, Ontario, Canada.  He was number seven in a family of eleven.  Even after missing some schooling because of farm work, he graduated at the head of the class. After Jonathan was converted (18 years of age) he enrolled in Knox College, Toronto. He did personal work while a college student walking as high as 40 miles fromKnox College in this ministry.  Florence Rosalind Bell-Smith, a young lady of some means, was attracted to him and became his bride. China became their destination laboring together for 47 years, pioneering in the dangerous North Honan Province.

 

I highly recommend Rosalind’s book Goforth of China and his book, By My Spirit.  He died 10/8/1936  back in Ontario.

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PUDDLE

When you see a puddle that’s ruddy,    

Don’t contemptuously call it “muddy,”

Unless its near-by-buddy

Is clear.

It may be the “ruddy season,”

Or have another reason,

Why to your eye it’s not pleasin’

My dear.      [1]

                – eab, 2/8/06          

---

[1] Written after seeing a puddle, walking on acreage behind church in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

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Jonathan Goforth – death, Oct. 8, 1936

If we all had faith to wait upon God in intense believing prayer there would be genuine Holy Ghost revival, and the living God would get all the glory. In Manchuria and China, when we did nothing else than give the address and let the people pray, and kept out of sight as far as possible, we saw the mightiest manifestations of Divine power.

            – Smith, Oswald J. The Revival We Need, London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1953,  –  from preface by Jonathan Goforth,

 

…We speak of the manifestations at Pentecost as being abnormal, yet we maintain that Pentecost was normal Christianity.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 10.                                       

 

Our Lord did not permit His chosen followers to witness a word in His name until endued with power from on high. It is true that before that day they were the “born-again” children of the Father and had the witness of the Spirit. But they were not the Lord’s efficient co-workers and never could be until Spirit-filled.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 11.      

 

There can be no alternative; it is either Holy Ghost revival or apostasy.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 13.      

 

We cannot emphasize too strongly our conviction that all hindrance in the Church is due to sin.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 13.      

 

Surely, since the sinless Son of God had to be made sin for us an over‑emphasis upon sin is in the nature of things impossible.

                Jonathan Goforth, By My Spirit, (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1964), 16.      

 

Jonathan Goforth died this date, 10/8/1936, at Wallaceburg, Ontario.  He was a product of Knox College, who married Rosalind Bell-Smith and went to China.  Goforth was born 2/10/1859 at Thorndale, (near London) Ontario, Canada.

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Stand Up and Sing!

Stanza 1

What appears to man to be,

A defeat on rugged tree.

Was the triumph of all time and space.

He died that’s to be sure,

But arose to ever endure,

Thus saving the whole human race.  – eab, 2/27/05

 

Written while pastoring the Pilgrim Holiness Church of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

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Joesph

Young “Joe” had a dream – make that two,

They seemed to come “out of the blue.”

Though often “let down,”

He eventually found,

His leadership dreams all came true. – eab, 3/3/05 Gen 37.9 

Written in Kingston, Ontario, Canada 

 

 

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“SELECTED”

Ever see a poem “- Selected”?

Did its author feel neglected?

Good publishers all, of course,

Always show the correct source,

Responsibility reflecting.

 

But if some printer has refused,

Really, why make him feel abused

Yield to his unkind “Edit.”

Allow failure for “credit.”

(Notice above the First Letters used.) J – eab, 11/29/05

Penned in Kingston (eastern) Ontario, Canada.  

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Don’t Turn the Post

Now and then I see where prankster,

 Has turned a corner post.

And “Main” becomes “Franklin,”  

And “Franklin,” “Main” – almost.

 

Locals know that “Main” is “Main,”

Not turning where miss-signed,

And the turned-street labels,

Make them to humor inclined.

 

But to the traveler on his journey

From his home to city far,

Doesn’t know the sign is wrong

And his day can fully mar,

 

By the miss-labeled street,

He may turn and travel long,

Only to sadly learn

His miles and hours were wrong.

 

If the devil can spin the signs,

Call that “Narrow” which is “Broad,”

And call the “Broadway,” “Narrow,”

Leading folks away from God,

 

Then satan may see them die,

Die despairing of Calvary’s cost,

Because they turned the wrong corner,

And were forever lost.

 

Preacher, do not be a prankster,

Turning the sign on the corner post,

“Winning” people by your humor,

Not preaching with the Holy Ghost.

 

And Traveler, oft check the map,

It the narrow and broad has told. 

Remember, the adage is still true,

“All that glitters is not gold.”   –eab, 2/9/06

 

Written in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

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George Beverly Shea – birth, Feb. 1, 1909

“The Wonder of It All”

 

There’s the wonder of sunset at evening

The wonder as sunrise I see

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me.

 

Refrain

O the wonder of it all,

The wonder of it all,

Just to think that God loves me

O the wonder of it all,

The wonder of it all,

Just to think that God loves me

2.

There’s the wonder of springtime and harvest

The sky, the stars, the sun

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that’s only begun.

 

George Beverly Shea was born this date (2/1/1909) in Winchester, Ontario, Canada.  The house in which he was born is about a block or two west of the main section of town (on the main street).  It is a frame house on the south side within very easy walking distance of the Wesley Methodist Church his dad, Adam I. Shea pastored. He is 100 years old today.   

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Oswald J Smith – Converted, Jan. 28, 1906

“The Song of the Soul Set Free”

Fairest of ten thousand is Jesus Christ, my Savior,
The Lily of the Valley, The Bright and Morning Star.
He is all my glory, and in this heart of mine
Forevermore I’m singing a song of love divine.

Refrain
‘Tis the song of the soul set free,
And its melody is ringing.
‘Tis the song of the soul set free;
Joy and peace to me it’s bringing.
‘Tis the song of the soul set free;
And my heart is ever singing,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The song of the soul set free!
2.
Once my heart was burdened, but now I am forgiven,
And with a song of gladness, I’m on my way to heav’n.
Christ is my Redeemer; my Song of Songs is He.
My Savior, Lord, and Master–to Him my praise shall be.
3.
When He came to save me, He set the joybells ringing,
And now I’m ever singing, For Christ has ransomed me.
Once I lived in darkenss; the light I could not see.
But now I sing His praises, for He was set me free.
4.
Angels cannot sing it–this song of joy and freedom,
For mortals only know it, the ransomed and the free.
Slaves were they in bondage and deepest misery;
But now they sing triumphant their songs of liberty.

Oswald Jeffrey Smith was Converted to Christ this date (1/28/1906) in a R A Torrey meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was 16.  God allowed him to pastor in Toronto from 1915 – 1959 most of those years at People’s Church of Toronto

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This Moment

What is the past – a memory,

Encased in picture and word?

What is the future – a hope,

A wish it can afford?

The present is all we have,

This moment is all we live.

Use it wisely then, to praise,

Use it to love, and to give.  –eab, 1/19/06

 

Written while pastoring in the western edge of Kingston, Ontario, a nice Canadian city.   

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