 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster. In the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car, Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. And so we pray that thou will bless us and use us to thy glory in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Amen. Uh, pal, I wonder if I could ask you something. That's kind of a switch, Bill. Usually I'm the one who wants to ask you something. Well, this is a little personal, Henry, so you don't really have to answer it if you don't want to. Maybe I ought to take a look out back and see how everything is... Oh, that's all right, Stumpy. Anything that Bill wants to talk to me about? Well, I don't mind having you here, too. Well, if it's okay. What is it, Bill? Just this, pal. I've been noticing in our devotions here at the station that you've been praying just about the same words each time for quite a while. Now, I'm not questioning your spiritual life, Henry, but I'm hoping that you're aware of what you're saying each time you say it. What do you mean, Bill? I think you know, Henry, you've heard people pray very spiritual-sounding prayers, using all the usual words and expressions, and not mean a thing by their praying. You think I do that? I didn't say that. But it's an easy habit to get into. Sometimes a Christian can slide into a kind of parrot religion and never even know he's done it. That's right. He starts repeating himself, or others, or the same words and phrases, and all the time the meaning is slipping away. I've heard people mention this before, Bill, but I never thought that I might be falling into it. I haven't really said you are, pal. I'm only reminding you to keep a sharp watch on yourself. Empty religious practices are the most deadly hypocrisy that the Christian church can know. That's pretty strong language, Bill. But I guess it really is hypocrisy, isn't it? It sure is, honey. Well, I've met lots of people in my time who have steered clear of the church just because they saw the emptiness and what was going on. I'd better watch myself. But why would anyone ever pray empty words, Bill? I mean, is there some way a guy like me can look out for things like that? And you remember Al Ferguson, Bill? I was just thinking about him myself. Who's Al Ferguson? He used to live here in Naughty Pine. What's he got to do with what we were talking about? Al was a real curious sort-of heller, and he usually spoke his mind once he was made up about something. He just about turned the church people in Naughty Pine upside down while he was here. I'd like to hear about that. I think you ought to hear about Al Henry. The whole thing was very much along the same lines as what we were just talking about. Have you got time right now to tell me? As long as no one decides to burn down the woods or any other such thing I have? Good. When did Al first start his questioning, Stumpy? You remember? Like it was yesterday. It was right after a prayer meeting one night. Remember, we just left the sanctuary and ran our way back to the station to check the teletype when Al came over. Bill, would you wait up a minute? Sure, Al. You know Stumpy, don't you? We've never really met, but everyone knows who you are, Stumpy. Howdy, Al. May I talk with you for a minute, Bill? Well, we were just on our way over to the ranger station. Want to walk along? Thanks. I will. Hello, Bill. Stumpy. Nice to see you out tonight. Mrs. Jackson, thank you. I was blessed by your prayer, Bill. In fact, I thought the whole meeting was an inspiration and a blessing. I'm glad. Good night to Mrs. Jackson. Good night, gentlemen. See you Saturday at the picnic. Now, what was it that you wanted to see me about, Al? That was perfect. That woman, Mrs. Jackson. Perfect? Bill, I sat in that prayer meeting and wasn't any more blessed than if I'd been at an auction. All evening, all I heard was words, words, words, and many amends to that mass of words. You certainly speak your mind, Al. Whee! I heard you, pretty Frank. What's the matter with me, Bill? You know as well as I do that I'm a Christian. No one knows better than I do how deserving of hell I am or how greatly God has redone my life since I saw forgiveness in the death of Jesus. But why do meetings like tonight leave me so cold? Well, Al, all of us are different. God is seen fit to make us that way. So what satisfies one heart may not satisfy another. But I can't help feeling that those hearts are too easily satisfied. What are you getting at, Al? Well, it seems... Now, I may be completely wrong, but it seems that many in that meeting were just praying because it was the thing to do. They were saying the same old things I've heard week after week and amenning the same things. It almost seems that just saying it sounds religious and calling it a prayer is enough to satisfy them. I don't think you can say for certain what goes on in everyone's mind in there. Oh, I don't think everyone is like that, but I wouldn't have come to you if I'd thought you were in that bunch. Even at that, Al, there are some who were raised to be accustomed only to the, uh, what you call, same old words and phrases. To them, these words really mean something. And they are, I believe, rightly satisfied with them. And there, Bill, there's something about the way they are said. I agree with you. I can think of a couple of people like that. But this affected pious... I just can't believe these people really have any idea of God at all while they're speaking. Well, what do you want Bill to do, young fella? Agree with you? Huh? Oh, I don't know, really. I suppose I did want something of that kind, but what good would that do? Exactly. Trouble with things like this is that they start little groups of people thinking that they're more spiritual than other little groups who are thinking the same thing. Pretty soon, you've got yourself a nice big split in your church. I see that, Stumpy. And I tried not to judge those people, but what can I do? What do you want to do, Al? Oh, I don't know. Sometimes I feel like standing up in that prayer meeting and shouting, Stop! Pray what you really mean. Stop playing the same old record every time you bow your heads. But I couldn't do that. Al, let me suggest something to you. Sure, Bill. Now, I believe there's a great deal in what you say. I wouldn't go around calling names, but I know one of the big dangers in the Christian life is to let our striving for a real communion with God slip away. And to substitute something, it only sounds and looks like the real thing. That's exactly what I mean. Al, this Saturday is the church picnic. Are you planning to come? I don't know, Bill. I've told you how I feel, but I'd really add much to the general festivities. I think you might be able to add quite a bit if you feel strongly enough about it. What do you mean? Just this. People are in a better mood at a shindig, such as a picnic. You can approach them a lot more easily than in more restricted surroundings. Now, why don't you do a little exploring into the area of prayer? Talk to various people about it at the picnic. See what they think. Possibly you will learn something in the search, and it just might be that others might learn something from your questions. What do you think? Okay, Bill, I'll try it. Between now and then, I'm going to have to do a lot of praying myself. I don't want to approach anyone with a completely negative attitude. As long as you see the possibility and really mean to avoid it, I'm sure God can answer that request. I think this might prove to be a very interesting church picnic at that. Was I fast? Why, when I used to play baseball, I was so fast that when I hit a home run, I used to be at a first base before the crowd heard the crack of the bat. And then, while I was rounding second, the second baseman asked me a question, and I shouted the answer to the third baseman in the catcher's ear. I hear you were a pretty tough umpire, too. Is that right, Stumpy? Tough. Well, I was so tough that they made me wear one of those wire face masks just to make sure I didn't bite any of the players. Looks like we're about ready to serve up the table full of food. Hello, everyone. That's right. Hi, Al. Having a good time? Believe it or not, yes. I've had some very good discussions with a few people. Good. You learned anything? Uh-huh. So far, I'm getting an increasingly large list of people who really attempt to pray honestly. In fact, Grandma Goodman pretty well puts me to shame. She uses the old words. Don't lead us in the blessing. We thank thee, our Father, for the food and fellowship we enjoy this day. We are mindful of those less fortunate than ourselves and commit them to thy care. We pray in the save your name. Amen. Thank you so much, Mr. John Stone. That's perfectly all right, Mrs. Jackson. Always glad to help. Excuse me, Mr. John Stone. I wonder if I could speak with you a bit. I couldn't wait until after the meal that these fine ladies are prepared. Well, if no one is sitting here, possibly we could talk during dinner. Well, if you insist. I don't suppose you know me, Mr. John Stone. Well, that's correct. I don't recall seeing you before. Well, I don't visit the inside of a businessman's office, such as yours too often. I suspected that. What I've been doing this afternoon is talking with a number of the people here, asking them about prayer. Oh, you want me to pray for you? No, it isn't that. You see, I have problems when I listen to others pray. I have problems believing them sincere, and as a result, I can't really pray with them. You believe me insincere when I pray? What I wanted to do was to talk with some of you, to find out what you think and feel, how you prepare yourself for the presence of God. For instance, the prayer you just offered. Well, did you find fault with it? Of all the nerves. I haven't said that at all. I'm simply curious, that's all. What did you think when you committed all those less fortunate to the Lord? Well, I thought just exactly that. There are many, even here in Naughty Pine, who do not enjoy the balanced diet and good friends that we enjoy. I was simply remembering them. Yes, personally, I think that's an admirable thing. Many of us just go on, never thinking of others. I agree, but what did you mean when you said you committed them? Well, I simply meant that, well, I hoped that they would see better days. I prayed that they would. And don't think that they wouldn't appreciate it if they knew. But why don't they know? I beg your pardon? I asked why they didn't know. You're a man of means, Mr. Johnstone. Do you ever visit the poor section of town? Do you ever help any of them out? My good man, I have far too many things to do to be spending my time among them. Well, if I spent my time running around the way you seem to think I should, I'd soon join them in their plight. Really, young man, what do you have in mind with all this? Nothing. It just seems to me that when a man prays for someone else, without actually giving of himself, that man is just saying what he says so his conscience can hear an end of it. Young man, let me give you a little piece of advice. There's a great deal of difference between what you might call giving of yourself and what I would call foolishness. Well, it's enough that I should think of these less fortunate people myself to go about like some sort of Florence Nightingale or a... A Jesus Christ? Well, you mover must die. You've ruined my lunch. Looks like I'm all alone here at the... Oh, it's you. I don't wonder you're alone. Well, excuse me, please. I've got to get... Mrs. Jackson, wait. Please don't go. Well? I know some of you think I'm just a troublemaker. That's putting it in a more pleasant way than some might. But why? What's that? Why am I regarded as a troublemaker? What have I really done to any of you? Why, that's such a ridiculous question. I hardly feel it deserves an answer. Please try, will you? Well, look at you. You walk up to such spiritual leaders as Elder John Stone, and you practically accuse him of hypocrisy, of praying just to ease his conscience. Doesn't he? Oh, you are incorrigible. Oh, give me strength. And what about that? What about what? Every week at prayer meeting, you pray that God will help you to bear your cross as a Christian, and yet often you're angry and superficial. Young man! Isn't it true? You were all set to be very nice to me just now until you discovered who I was. Is that the action of a Christian? And what about you? Going around criticizing, picking, accusing? But I'm not doing any of it with malice. Really? A lot of difference that makes. It almost looks as though you think it easier to pray for help in the Christian life than it is simply to make an effort to live it. Oh, I don't have to listen to such things. Don't you see, Mrs. Jackson, that God will never help you to do something that you aren't trying to do in the first place? Oh, you sound to me as though you think you're some kind of a prophet or something. I think rather than spending time talking with the fine Christian people here, you ought to be talking with a psychiatrist. That's how it started, Henry. Sounds like Al was finding out just what he expected all along. And don't forget, pal, that he did find some who were really worse sincere when they prayed in what he called the usual words. It would be a mistake to say it's impossible. Even Al would admit that. But I see what you mean, Bill. If I use words like blessing, inspiration, or joy, or even saved without really thinking about what they mean, I might just as well be talking nonsense. That's more along the idea, pal. Paul says that he would rather speak a few words that had meaning than many spiritual words that no one understood. Remember a couple of expressions that Al used to use as an example of what he meant by all this? What were they? He used to say that anyone who really was thinking about what he was saying could never say that he was on fire and all out for the Lord. On fire and all out. Oh, yeah. Well, what about Al, Bill? When he saw these different people fooling themselves into what they thought was praying, did he do anything about it? He tried a lot of things, Henry. But you know, as well as I do, when you once make someone angry, it's impossible to make a helpful remark to them. They take it as an insult and cling all the harder to whatever it is you're attacking. Hello, Bill Stumpy. Well, good morning, Mr. Johnstone. Who's just talking about you? Oh, do I dare ask what it was you were saying? We were telling Henry about that church picnic a few years back when we all learned a few lessons about prayer. Oh, oh, that. Yes, that was an instructive day to be sure. I thought that Ferguson Fellow was about the most infuriating man I'd ever come across. I probably would never have seen anything like what I said if it hadn't been for the cave-in. Cave-in? We were just getting to that part, Henry. I knew something had to happen. Mr. Johnson isn't really anything like the way you said he was then. Oh, thank God for that, Henry. Why don't you tell Henry about the cave-in, Mr. Johnstone? All right. That is, if you have time. Well, frankly, it always seems to do me some good to recount the events of that afternoon. As I remember, just as some of the men were beginning to choose sides for a game of baseball. I wasn't too interested in joining them, so I decided that a walk would give me the... I need a good second baseman. Aren't you going to join the men, Mr. Johnstone? Oh, I'm afraid not. Baseball is a bit too, well, energetic for me. Well, I think it's all a pretty silly game anyhow. Deal, you don't think it's going to rain and spoil our nice picnic, do you? Oh, look at the sky. I wouldn't be surprised if we had a shower before the afternoon was over. Oh, I knew we should have held the picnic in the park. Out here there aren't any pavilions for shelter. Well, it might be a good idea to get the rest of the food covered and ready to be easily moved. I presume that the idea of having the picnic here included that cave over there in case of bad weather. A cave? Oh dear, I hadn't even noticed it. Well, I'd better get the ladies busy organizing everything in case we have to move it. There, that's the last of it. Do you think the storm will be a long one, Bill? I doubt it, Mrs. Jackson. If you look away, you can actually see the sun shining on the other side of it. I'd say it shouldn't be much longer than 20 minutes to half an hour at the rate it's coming. Well, that's a blessing. But that doesn't mean we hadn't all better get inside the cave. When it hits, which won't belong from now, it's going to be hard. Come on, everyone. Gather up those things over there. Let's get out of the cave. Don't go too far back. There's been silence over there. Not a minute too soon. Bill, do you know anything about this cave? We've been back into it a ways. This cave has been explored for quite a ways back, folks, but I wouldn't go back to examine it. Once you get away from the mouth, it gets completely dark. I'm afraid it isn't wired with electricity. Thank you for reminding us of this cave, Mr. Dunton. I was just wondering I should have known if the rangers would probably have been through it. Now it's always a good thing to check. Look out! Get away from the mouth of the cave! Hey, get back! Stumpy, you got a flashlight? I sure do, sonny. Good. So do I. There we are. Is everyone all right? I suggest a total count. The only way to make sure that no one near the mouth is caught. Let's do this, seven bill. Looks like we're all safe. Safe in this cave with the mouth plugged? Well, I don't call that safe. Neither do I. What are we to do, Bill? I'll try to estimate how thick the cave in is. That way we'll know whether or not we can expect to dig our way out. And if not... Why don't you pray? How are you trying to be funny? Not at all. You seem to think that prayer takes care of things automatically without any assistance. Why don't you sit back and pray us out of here? Young man, you have made this afternoon very disagreeable for me. With all your talk about prayer and all your accusations... It doesn't seem to be too thick. We should be able to dig our way out in a short time but just go easy on your hands. Oh, yes. Well, let's get started. You see, why pray when we can dig? My question exactly. I can help if it'll get us out of here more quickly. Aren't you going to pray to be helped in digging? What's that? Oh, it's you I might have known. When there's work to be done, you're running around trying to start arguments. Well, I'll have none of that now. I'm serious. Don't you feel the need of God's help to dig? I mean, it's hard work but it has to be done. Our lives depend on it. I don't have time to worry about how hard it's going to be. That's right. It's the only thing to do, isn't it? Why, yes. So is living a Christian life, isn't it? Well, you step aside, young man. Ferguson, wait a minute. Oh, hi, Bill. Why are you going out? Oh, I don't know. I've been going to prayer meetings so long on this night that I don't really know what to do with myself when I don't go. After last Saturday's jolly time? Why not? All I'd have to do is take one step inside that church and they'd have my head on a platter. Oh, I don't think it's that bad, Al. Come on, I'll go in with you. Please escort. Come on, Al. Let's go to church. Mr. Johnstone is in charge of the meeting. The practice of substituting words for deeds is not new. The apostle John saw symptoms of it in his day and warned against it when he said, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and truth. James also condemns the vice of words without deed or meaning. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding, ye give them not those things which are needful to the body. What doth it profit? I can tell you personally that it profits not one thing. This past Saturday, I saw my spiritual life in a much clearer light. In the darkness of that cave, the light of God shone in and said, Wallace Johnstone, you're a hypocrite. Well, I am thankful for the concern of God for my honesty and for his bringing to me a young man with enough gall in scruples to face me with myself. I confess this hypocrisy to you tonight, my friends, and I ask forgiveness for pretending to be what I wasn't. God's kindness is hard, but he's the God of the truth and in truth I praise his name. And that's the whole story, Henry. Well, you were a Christian, weren't you, Mr. Johnson? Yes, Henry, but a pretty useless one. I was happy in my pious show, but I never really did anyone any good. In fact, I was a good reason why some laughed at Christianity. They don't laugh at you now. Only because God is who he is and promises what he does for the Christian who keeps his head in the clouds. But, well, the trouble starts if he takes his feet off the ground. Well, Henry, now you see what we were talking about a while ago, reminded Stumpy and I of Al Ferguson. I sure can. And you can be sure that I'm going to start right away examining what I say in prayer and to others about God. I don't want to fall into the habit of empty words. Good boy. There's nothing empty about God, Henry. He's the fullness of life itself. Anytime emptiness is connected with him, it must have started down here with us. Oh, quite true, Stumpy. And speaking of feeling empty, come on down to Sam's lunch is on me. Well, see you next week for more adventure with Ranger. Ranger Bill was produced in the radio studios of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.