September 2009 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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September 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.

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At one time a soldier, a repeated violator of army regulations, found himself once more before the exasperated disciplinary authorities.

“Here he is again,” the disgusted officer greeted him, as he gruffly read off the long list of offenses for which the man had been punished in the past. But a little later, as he prepared to announce the punishment, a sergeant stepped forward and, after due apology for taking this liberty, said:

“There’s one thing we have never done with him, sir.”

“What’s that?” the officer demanded.

“Well, sir, you’ve never forgiven him.”

The colonel, much surprised at first, decided to take the advice of the sergeant and, breaking all precedent, freed the offender.

This was the last thing the soldier had expected. Tears began to trickle down his hardened cheeks. Barely able to stutter a few words of thanks, he withdrew, not only to the barracks, but this time also from his old way of living. The punishments he had received in the past had only made him more bitter against his superiors, but this sudden manifestation of love and forgiveness changed his whole attitude. How much more should this be true of those who not only have received a far greater forgiveness at the hand of God, but also have access to the power of God which enables them to live so as to please Him.—By Paul K. Freiwirth, Signs of the Times, September 15, 1953.

Quote: “Nobody will err about the way to God if he really resolves to follow that way. The Spirit of God will guide those whose hearts are set upon coming to God.”—By Spurgeon, Signs of the Times, July 10, 1923.

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Don't miss the October 2009 issue of Signs of the Times: “The Complete Picture of Health,” “Why Baptism Matters,” “Recognizing the Real Jesus,” “When Jesus Comes Again” and other important articles. To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com

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The story is told of an out-of-town visitor to New York who got out of a subway train at Times Square. He asked the subway guard, “When I reach the surface, I want to find such-and-such a street. Can you tell me where it is?”

The subway employee, with typical indifference, said, “Don’t ask me anything about up there, Mister. I don’t know anything about up there. I know all about down here but nothing about up there.”

A good many of professing Christians are like that. Millions in our land care little about anything “up there.” Ignoring God, preoccupied with the material things of life, they are destroying our heritage of freedom.

Let us thank God for His “Unspeakable Gift,” Jesus Christ, and all material and spiritual blessings through Him.—By W. T. Purkiser, These Times, November 1978.

Quote: “We are living in a day of clever preaching, and brother, it’s not working. There is power in preaching when we preach the cross. Don’t rob the cross of its power.”—By Billy Graham, These Times, June 1961.

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One day a young nobleman on horseback rode impatiently up and down the streets of a village in Cornwall. He was seeking for a public house, where he could get a glass of that concerning which Shakespeare said, alas, “that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!” But his search was vain, and coming upon a white-haired peasant on his way home after a day of toil, the young man said, with rising anger, “Why is it that I cannot get a glass of liquor in this wretched little village?”

The old man recognized to whom he was to speak, and, taking off his cap, made his humble obeisance as he replied: “My lord, about a hundred years ago a man named John Wesley came to these parts.” And the old man walked on. A hundred years and Wesley’s influence was still present.—Unknown, Signs of the Times, May 5, 1953.

Quote: “Earning maketh an industrious man; spending, a well-furnished man; saving, a prepared man; giving, a blessed man.”—From The Cross, Signs of the Times, October 13, 1936.

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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: People often have questions about life and the end of the world. You can help them find answers by sending Signs of the Times®. Each month Signs takes on current issues and directs people to Jesus for relevant answers. Send a subscription today and watch what happens. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com

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A small boy was guiding his sister up a mountain path. She began to complain, “It’s not a path at all. It’s all rocky and bumpy.”

The boy’s response was courageous: “Sure; the bumps are what you climb on.”—Unknown, These Times, February 1977.

Quote: “Oh, the joy, the inexpressible joy of feeling so safe with a person that you have neither to weigh words nor measure thoughts; but can pour them right out just as they are, chaff and grain together, confident that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.”—Unknown, These Times, January 1961.

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Read articles from back issues of Signs of the Times: http://www.SignsTimes.org

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Many times we are reminded of the defeated saint who was continually praying and confessing in the meetings, “Lord, take these cobwebs from our eyes.” At the next meeting he would be praying again about the cobwebs. Finally, one old brother, who could no longer endure the continuous round of defeat, cried out, “Lord, kill that spider.”—Unknown, These Times, September 1965.

These Seven Things I Have Tried:

Laughing at difficulties and found them disappearing.

Attempting heavy responsibilities and found them growing lighter.

Facing a bad situation and found it clearing up.

Telling the truth and found it the easiest way out.

Doing an honest day’s work and found it most rewarding.

Believing people honest and found them measuring up to expectations.

Trusting God each day and found Him surprising me with His goodness.—Unknown, These Times, September 1965.

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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