November 2008 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

[Stan]

The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues of Signs and These Times.

***************************

When the news that Abraham Lincoln had been shot was flashed to New York City, immediately, we are told, a crowd began to gather before the bulletin boards in the old printing house center. Men’s hearts were hot with passion in those days, and feeling was running high. They watched the news from the sick chamber, the temper of the crowd growing more fierce and bitter as the bulletins became more serious. And presently the word was flashed, “He is dead.”

There was silence a moment, and then a hoarse cry from the crowd. Someone raised a shout against an opposition newspaper that had been criticizing the president’s policy. A voice cried, “Let’s tear it down!” and the crowd surged. Just then a man stepped out onto the balcony of a hotel overlooking the square, waved a little flag, and got the attention of the crowd. Then his voice rang out over the tumult, saying:

“GOD REIGNS—THE GOVERNMENT STANDS!”

“Fellow citizens, clouds and darkness are around about Him. His pavilion is dark waters and thick clouds of the sky. Justice and judgment are the habitation of His throne. Mercy and truth go before His face. God reigns, and the government at Washington still lives.”

It was Garfield, himself to fall later; but in that moment, the thought that God reigns quieted the angry feelings of the crowd, and they dispersed, to leave the issue with the great God reigning above. Oh, it is good to know that above, in heaven, the living God, who has spoken this blessed Word to us, knows the end from the beginning, and that He is guiding in the affairs of this world, for the carrying out of His own purpose of love and grace!—By W. A. Spicer, Signs of the Times, August 13, 1918.

Quote: “A good example is the best sermon.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, April 26, 1883.

***************************

Don't miss the December 2008 issue of Signs of the Times: “The Christ of Crisis”, “Christmas Presence”, “Finding Hope and Help in the Bible”, “Who is Jesus?”, “Mary’s Story”, “How to Cure Tantrums” and other important articles. To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com

***************************

“Mama,” asked the little four-year-old, “how do you spell ‘ginger’?”

“Put away your book, dear. It is time for you to go to bed.”

“Papa, how do you. . .”

“Don’t bother me, Katie.”

“What does it mean when it says. . .”

“Did you hear your mother?”

Katie threw the book on the floor.

“I don’t believe there’s anybody that loves me,” she burst forth, “ ‘cept grandpa and God. Grandpa, he’s in Michigan, and I don’t know where God is!”---Exchange, Signs of the Times, June 25, 1896.

Quote: “Our prayers only go as far as our hands and feet are willing to follow.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, July 30, 1896.

***************************

NEW from Pacific Press—The Sign by Shawn Boonstra. Designated as the 2009 Sharing Book, The Sign by Shawn Boonstra reveals that the Sabbath is God’s sign of love and loyalty—a symbol of freedom from the slavery of sin. Let Pastor Boonstra help those you love understand the Sabbath truth. You can share a copy of The Sign with a friend for less than the price of a greeting card. Keep a supply on hand and watch for opportunities to share your faith!

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

***************************

A man stood on a street corner one day, it is said, passing out ten-dollar bills—or trying to. Most people passed him by. They would not believe he was giving away anything worthwhile. Finally a bank clerk came along, looked at the man, and said to himself, “Either this man is crazy or the ten-dollar bills are counterfeit. In either case he needs to be in the hands of the police.” And that is where the man ended up. People could not realize that they could receive free a ten-dollar bill, and indeed in this life one does not get anything free. Ultimately one pays for everything he gets from men.

But not so with God.—By Frank H. Yost, Our Times, April 1950.

Quote: “There are two great roots of all evil, covetousness and pride, and yet no man thinks himself to be either covetous or proud.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, March 31, 1890.

***************************

Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Hard times cause people to think seriously about life . . . and God. This means that your friends and family are more open than ever. Send Signs of the Times® today and let the Holy Spirit knock on their heart’s door. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com

***************************

Once upon a time, it does not matter when or where, the deacons of a certain church met together to consider the state of affairs in their little Zion.

Things were going wrong. There were few conversions, many empty pews, and grumblers enough to stock a dozen churches. Even the collection plate was going empty.

Great was the talk, and alas, they fell upon the poor minister as the root of all the evil. One said he preached too long and frightened the people away. Another, that his doctrine was different from that of his sainted predecessors. Another, that he did not visit enough. And another still, that he lacked unction, fire, and force. Well, sinners must have a scapegoat, and who so fit for one as the minister?

They resolved, therefore, to approach him and tell him their minds.

Now, in the corner of the room there hung a parrot cage, and on the perch within stood a fine green parrot. Lately arrived in this country, it knew no other language than that which it had heard at sea.

It was evidently puzzled by the talk of the brethren, and held its head on one side as if to master the subject under consideration. One thing was certain, it meant to have its say in the matter as soon as opportunity offered.

The chance came. A lugubrious brother, in a long and mournful speech, was still bewailing their unfortunate circumstances, and in coming to the close said, “Well, my brethren, I am sorry things are as they are; our minister may be a good man, yet, think of it as I will, I see no remedy but. . .”—

“Work, you lubbers, WORK. WORK, you lubbers, work.”

So said the parrot, and abruptly finished the brother’s speech, and startled the entire diaconate into a state of abnormal activity.

Horrified at the untimely timeliness of the parrot’s remark, the good brother who owned the parrot sprang up in anger—he was but a man—and made a dash at the cage with fell intent of teaching the poor creature a lesson.

“Stop, brother, stop,” cried one of the brethren; “you may wring the parrot’s neck, but you cannot wring the neck of truth. The bird is right; we are wrong. Work is the remedy after all.”

They tried the remedy, and the result was all that could be desired.”—From London Freeman, Signs of the Times, February 20, 1901.

Quote: “You have not fulfilled every duty unless you have fulfilled that of being pleasant.”—By Charles Buxton, Signs of the Times, February 20, 1901.

***************************

Pocket Signs are EASY to include with holiday greeting cards. Along with the year in review and family picture simply slide in a great title like No Greater Love - the beautiful story of Christ’s birth. The appealing message of this Pocket Signs also comes with an invitation for Bible study on the back panel. Other great titles are available but whatever your choice, you can be sure that people will love the message. With one kind gesture you can tactfully keep Jesus at the center of Christmas. For a FREE sample copy, please send an email along with your mailing address to becbin@pacificpress.com

***************************

There was a Methodist preacher who preached one day on heaven. The next morning he was going down town and he met one of his old, wealthy members. This man met the preacher and said:

“Pastor, you preached a good sermon about heaven. You told me all about heaven, but you never told me where heaven is.”

“Ah,” said the pastor, “I am glad of the opportunity this morning! I have just come from the hilltop yonder. In that cottage there is a member of your church. She is sick in bed with the fever; her two little children are sick in the other bed, and she has not got a bit of coal or a stick of wood, or flour or sugar or any bread. If you will go down town and buy $50 worth of things, nice provisions, and send them up to her, and then go up there and say, ‘My sister, I have brought these nice provisions in the name of our Lord and Saviour;’ if you ask for a Bible, and you read the twenty-third Psalm, and you then get down on your knees and pray, if you don’t see heaven before you get through, I’ll pay the bill.”

The next morning he said, “Pastor, I saw heaven, and spent fifteen minutes in heaven as certainly as you are listening.”—Exchange, Signs of the Times, January 24, 1895.

Quote: “Who will not mercy unto others show, how can he mercy ever hope to have?”—By Edmund Spencer, Our Times, February 1949.

***************************

Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others. If this FREE newsletter was forwarded to you by a friend, and you would like to receive it directly on a monthly basis, email: join-signsnews@lyra.pacificpress.com