April 2010 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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April 2010 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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Nine-year-old Braun lived in a little village not far from London. Braun’s parents were agnostics, but they felt that at least once in his life, he ought to go to church. So the dressed him up in his little black suit and black bow tie and asked the governess to take him.

That Sunday, the parson preached about the crucifixion of a Man. He described the nails driven through the Man’s hands, the crown of thorns jammed upon His head, the blood that ran down His face, and the spear that ripped into His side. He described the agony in His eyes and the sorrow in His voice when He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Halfway through the sermon, little Braun was crying. Wouldn’t somebody do something? Wouldn’t the congregation rise up together and take the Man down from the cross? But as he looked around in astonished surprise, he saw that the people were complacent. “What’s the matter with these people, Nanny?” he asked. “Why doesn’t somebody do something about that Man on the cross?”

Patting Braun on the shoulder, his nanny nervously whispered in reply, “Braun, Braun, be quiet. It’s just a story. Don’t let it trouble you. Just listen quietly. You’ll soon forget about this old story when we go home.”

What is the story of the cross to you? Is it just something you sometimes sing about? Something you occasionally mention in prayer? Something you hear glibly referred to in sermons? What difference does the cross make when you have feelings of condemnation and guilt? Does it enable you to cope with despair and discouragement?—By Mark A. Finley, Signs of the Times, August 1996.

Quote: “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.”—By Samuel Smiles, Signs of the Times, October 6, 1890.

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Don't miss the May 2010 issue of Signs of the Times: “Three Things You Should Know About Death,” “Does God Destroy?” “Cosmic Conflict,” “Some Grave Thoughts,” “Rules for Adult Children Living at Home,” “How Good Are You?” and other important articles. To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at www.pacificpress.com/signs

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A story is told of a sculptor who wanted to carve a lifelike statue of Christ. He selected a large block of marble and worked on it for three years. When he finished, he asked a little girl if she knew whom the statue represented. She looked a long time and said she did not know. He knew he had failed. But he was determined to make this his masterpiece, so he got down on his knees and prayed. He asked Jesus to accept him, to intercede with God for forgiveness of his sins. He wept as he prayed, and spent the entire week in prayer. At the end of the week he had a glorious experience. The Holy Spirit so filled him that he rose from his knees rejoicing. His born-again experience was evident to all, and he was an entirely new creature in Christ.

He then got another piece of marble and went to work on it with much joy. He was confident; he seemed to have his hands guided by some unseen, but powerful, force. He worked as though someone were telling him just the lines to carve. It took him several years to complete this statue.

Then he got another little child, brought her into his studio, and asked her if she knew whom the statue represented. Without a moment’s delay, the child answered, “It is of the One who said, ‘I am the way,’ and ‘Come unto Me.’ “

The sculptor knew that he had caught that divine likeness in the stone, for it could be instantly recognized even by a child.

That is how it should be with us. It should be possible for others to see in us some resemblance to Jesus. . . . When His image is deeply implanted in our hearts and souls, His likeness will show in our countenances and in our lives.—By Mont Hurst, Our Times, October 1950.

Quote: “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without thereby helping himself.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, June 9, 1890.

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NEW from Pacific Press— Paper God by Andy Nash. Anything can become a false god – even good things. In Paper God, popular Adventist Review columnist Andy Nash tells the story of his dream—and how that dream became all-consuming in his life. It’s also the story of the collapse of that dream and his struggle through failure to a deeper, lasting faith in the one true God.

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/olink.tpl?sku=0816323844 Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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When the renowned theologian Karl Barth neared the end of his life, he was asked to sum up his thoughts about Christianity. No doubt the questioner expected a lengthy, ponderous explanation from the learned professor. Instead, Barth answered by reciting the words of a song many of us learned in childhood: “Jesus loves me; this I know. For the Bible tells me so.”—By Ken Holland, Signs of the Times, January 2002.

Quote: “The truest philosophy of prayer is learned in the deepest distress. It is then God is everything to us—the helper of the helpless.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, June 9, 1890.

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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Signs of the Times® is a clear and consistent witness. Your friends and neighbors will be impressed with its timely articles! Send a subscription today. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: www.pacificpress.com/signs

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A psychologist studying the moral choices of young children asked a five-year-old who was playing a game, “Why do you need rules to play this game?”

“Because,” the child answered, “They let me know when I’m cheating.”—By Clifford Goldstein, Signs of the Times, June 1998.

Quote: “The Bible tells us of the streams that it may allure us to the fountain; it tells of the past acts of God’s faithful love that we may be led to set our hope on God, and to feel assured that He who hath helped will help, and He who hath loved will love, unto the end.”—By Thomas Erskine, Signs of the Times, January 20, 1890.

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Read articles from past issues of Signs at: www.signstimes.org

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I have just been re-reading a favorite story and pondering some of the thoughts it suggests. A huddle of small boys were faithful witnesses to the daily progress made on a sewer line down a certain city street. Their eyes were wide with curiosity and admiration as they fastened their gaze on every movement the workmen made. The ditches were about eight feet deep and in them was laid tile about fifteen inches in diameter.

One evening after the line had been covered over with dirt, except for a portion at street intersections, the boys decided to get a better view. Into the ditch they clambered and enthusiastically examined the sewer line.

“Say, gang,” commented one, “wonder what it would be like to crawl through that pipe to the opening at the next block? Sure would be exciting. Harry, how about it? I dare you to crawl through this pipe to the next street.”

Harry was a normal twelve-year-old fellow, and his pride would not allow him to refuse such a challenging dare, even though the pipe looked small and dark and the destination a long way off.

“O.K., fellas, I’ll do it if you follow behind me.” They agreed.

In the leader crawled, hands first, worming his way slowly through the dark and narrow enclosure. Now and then he called to his comrades for encouragement and received in answer ghostlike voices of assurance from a distance behind. This was pretty good sport he decided, and after a while he again called to his buddies. There was no answer. Horrified and frightened for the first time, he concluded that they had backed their way out of the sewer and left him to crawl through by himself. Should he, too, turn back? He reasoned that he must be about halfway through and it took much less effort to crawl forward than backward, so on he went, like an earthworm burrowing through the soil. The pipes grew colder and his morale was very low. He yelled and screamed, then tried to calm himself.

Suddenly he was confronted with another cause for alarm. A bulge of mortar, holding pipe sections together, caught his coat. Frantically he struggled to free himself, but the more he tugged the more the coat twisted on his aching body. The tunnel seemed to grow smaller, but his body and fears increased in size. Exhaustion and sheer desperation filled him. He was trapped, helpless! Why had he allowed himself to accept such a foolish challenge? The Bible words, “as a fool dieth,” flashed through his mind. His mind’s eye envisioned the next morning’s newspaper headlines: “Boy Caught in Sewer—Drowned Like a Rat.” He sobbed and tugged and twisted, but to no avail. Then he prayed to God for strength to break loose. From a distance there flashed a light and a familiar voice sounded, “Harry, I’m here.” His father! Renewed strength filled his body and he lunged forward, tearing his coat loose from the cement. In a short time he arrived safely at the opening.

Many years ago our first parents became curious about another sewer line—sin’s sewer. They crawled in, enticed by Satan, and found that there was no turning back, that they were trapped to be swept away by a flood of wickedness.—By Esther L. Brassington, Our Times, February 1947.

Quote: “Thoughts may be classified as friends and enemies. Charitable, inspiring, uplifting thoughts are our friends; and discordant, malicious, life-destroying thoughts are our enemies.”—Success, Signs of the Times, March 4, 1903.

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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