May 2009 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

[Stan]

May 2009 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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

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

One beautiful spring day a fisherman was sitting contentedly on the grassy bank of a wide, navigable river, watching the cork on his fishing line, when his attention was called to a river boat turning the bend of the river some distance upstream.

At about this same time a small boy came running down the bank out onto a rather frail landing which extended some feet out into the river. Someone had driven a few posts into the mud, and with some heavy planks had made this crude, simple wharf.

The little fellow, his eyes watching the boat, was frantically waving a white handkerchief. The fisherman asked him if he was waving to someone on board.

“I’m signaling them to land,” the lad replied.

“Are you crazy, boy?” inquired the fisherman. “That boat will never land here.”

There was a strong current in the river, and that landing place was too frail, he was sure.

Then the boat whistled, and the boy stopped his signaling. The fisherman momentarily forgot his fishing. The boat was pulling over that way. Figuring the pull of the stream, the pilot swung the boat close to shore. A gangplank was pushed onto the frail landing, and the small boy ran onto the boat. As the boat workers pulled in the gangplank, the lad shouted back to the surprised fisherman, “I’m no fool, mister. My dad’s the pilot on this boat.”

To the unbeliever, the trusting Christian is as much a puzzle as was the small boy to the fisherman. Confidently he tackles the problems of life. Tranquilly he meets temptations and trials. Hopefully he faces the uncertainties of today and every day. To the man or woman who does not know God, the Christian may often seem foolish. But the child of God knows whom he believes, and is confident that the hand of his Father rules in the affairs of men and nations.—By C. L. Paddock, Signs of the Times, June 27, 1950.

Quote: “He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom reads the Word, he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high—he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren; but he who calls in secret on his God, who spends much time in holy retirement, who delights to meditate on the words of the Most Holy, whose soul is given up to Christ—such a man must have an overflowing heart; and as his heart is, such will his life be.”—By Spurgeon, Signs of the Times, June 4, 1940.

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

Don't miss the June 2009 issue of Signs of the Times: “Youth Making a Difference”, “Out of Body Experiences”, “The Chair of Wisdom”, “Why Darwin’s Triumph?”, “War in Heaven: When Everything Went Wrong”, “The Reality of Death”, “When Jesus Reviews Your Life” and other important articles. To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com

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

What shall we say about the cross of Jesus Christ that hasn’t already been said? Corrie ten Boom, celebrated author of “The Hiding Place”, the dramatic Christian adventure of the Dutch underground in World War II, tells the following incident of her sister Betsie’s appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary.

At the inhuman prison in Germany every Friday the Nazis made the prisoners completely undress for medical inspection. They were humiliated, the women, at having to march by grinning guards. On one of those mornings, Corrie says, “yet another page in the Bible leapt into life for me.

“He hung naked on the cross.

“I had not known—had not thought. . . . The paintings, the carved crucifixes showed at the least a scrap of cloth. But this, I suddenly knew, was the respect and reverence of the artist. But oh—at the time itself, on that other Friday morning—there had been no reverence. No more than I saw in the faces around us now.

“I leaned toward Betsie, ahead of me in line. Her shoulder blades stood out sharp and thin beneath her blue-mottled skin.

“ ‘Betsie, they took His clothes too.’

“Ahead of me I heard a little gasp. ‘Oh, Corrie. And I never thanked Him.’”—By Kenneth J. Holland, These Times, March 1979.

Quote: “My life has been full of terrible misfortunes—most of which have never happened.”—By Montaigne, These Times, March 1979.

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

NEW from Pacific Press— The Lord's Prayer through Primitive Eyes by Gottfried Oosterwal is an amazing story of what can happen when the power of prayer is combined with the spirit of mission. One of the first missionaries to the cannibal tribes of Papua New Guinea, Dr. Oosterwal became a trusted friend to this nearly extinct people. One day, the tribal leaders came to him with a request: "Nana (Friend), teach us to pray." This is the story of the miraculous changes that unfolded among this primitive tribe as, phrase by phrase, they are led through the Lord's Prayer and ultimately to a new life in Jesus.

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/olink.tpl?sku=0816323070 Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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

One night a man took a small candle out of a drawer, lighted it, and began to ascend a long, winding stair.

“Where are you going?” asked the candle.

“Away high up,” said the man.

“What are you going to do there?” said the candle.

“I am going to show the ships out at sea where the harbor is,” said the man. “For we stand here at the entrance to the harbor, and some ships far out on the stormy sea may be looking for our light even now.”

“Alas! No ship could ever see my light,” said the candle, “it is so very small.”

“If your light is small,” said the man, “keep burning bright, and leave the rest to me.”

When the man got up to the lighthouse, he took the candle and with it lighted the great lamps that stood ready there with their polished reflectors behind them.

You who think your little light of so small account, can you not see what God may do with it? Shine and leave the rest to Him.—Source Not Known, Signs of the Times, April 6, 1954.

Quote: “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”—From The Defender, Signs of the Times, January 24, 1956.

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

Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Praying for your friend or neighbor? Why not add them to your Signs list? They’ll receive twelve life changing issues of Signs of the Times. Start using this proven soul winner today. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com

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

In St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is a painting by Holman Hunt called “Christ, the Light of the World.” When the painting was first painted, an art critic called the artist’s attention to the fact that there was no latch on the outside of the door.

Holman Hunt answered, “That’s the way I meant it to be. You see, the door must be opened from the inside.”—By Billy Graham, These Times, January 1961.

Quote: When Robert Morrison began his pioneer work in Chinese missions, someone asked him, “Do you expect to be able to do anything in a land so vast?” “No,” he answered, “but I expect God will.”—By H. M. S. Richards, These Times, January 1955.

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

New sharing materials from Pacific Press: Pocket Signs—Hope In Troubled Times, and a pamphlet—Steps to Peace. Both of these are wonderful for sharing with friends. For a FREE sample copy of each, send your name and mailing address to lyncra@pacificpress.com before May 15, 2009. (Offer good in the US and Canada only.)

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

An illustration, recited in Dwight L. Moody’s graphic fashion in one of his discourses, suggested this hymn to Philip Bliss.

“A stormy night on Lake Erie, and the sky pitch dark.

“ ‘Pilot, are you sure this is Cleveland? There’s only one light.’

“ ‘Quite sure, Cap’n.’

“ ‘Where are the lower lights?’

“ ‘Gone out, sir.’

“ ‘Can you run in?’

“ ‘We’ve got to, Cap’n—or die.’

“The brave old pilot did his best, but, alas, he missed the channel. The boat was wrecked, with a loss of many lives. The lower lights had gone out.

“Brethren, the Master will take care of the great Lighthouse. It is our work to keep the lower lights burning!”

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From His lighthouse evermore;

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Dark the night of sin has settled,

Loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!

Some poor seaman, tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.—By Philip Bliss, These Times, March 1958.

Quote: “Little minds are too much wounded by little things; great minds see all and are not even hurt.”—By Francois de La Rochefoucauld, These Times, October 1964.

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

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

[phkrause]

I love my Signs of the Times magazine. I look forward to getting it each month. It has so many good stories. And other articles.

pk

[Gerr]

Thanks for these interesting tidbits.