January 2011 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.

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

A great sculptor in Italy, Vincenzo Gemito, was acknowledged to be one of the leading artists of his time. He was given a commission by King Humbert and Queen Marguerita to make some beautiful things for their palace. The queen desired a silver centerpiece for the dinner table. Gemito made a lovely design and was ready to cast the group in silver. But a few state officials, in opposition to the king and queen, refused to make the necessary grant of money.

Gemito went as far as his means would permit, but he needed more money in order that he might complete his work. He applied at the office of the treasurer for the money, but it was said that they were not on friendly terms with the king and queen, and his application was refused.

Day after day, week after week, and month after month he received no favorable response. He became so impoverished that he was utterly discouraged. For nearly twenty years he was unable to go on with any of his work because of mental unbalance. But his daughter married a young man who was also preparing to do the same kind of work that the great sculptor, her father, had been doing. Knowing how great an artist his father-in-law was, the young man asked him to teach him. So the aged sculptor began to teach his son-in-law. The young couple surrounded the aged man with love and gentleness.

Little by little his old-time skill came back. Finally, Gemito was able to do as high a quality of work as he did before the great catastrophe twenty years previous. In Italy today it is said he is considered the leading sculptor of the nation. His strength had been renewed through the kindness and love of members of his own family, who recognized the power that was in him, long in abeyance.

If then a daughter and a son-in-law, being imperfect, knew how to encourage one who had lost hope so that his old-time skill came back, how much more shall our heavenly Father renew the strength of those who wait upon Him according to His Word!—By Don O. Shelton, Signs of the Times, October 27, 1931.

Quote: “Lamps do not talk, they shine.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, May 6, 1930.

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

Don't miss the February 2011 issue of Signs of the Times: “How to Die Right,” “Challenging God’s Reputation,” “The Awesome Claims of Christ,” “How to Live a Long and Happy Life,” “Why Bother With Church?” and other important articles. To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at www.pacificpress.com/signs

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

One night in February 1943 a United States submarine was resting quietly on the surface of the Pacific Ocean off Rabaul, New Britain, keeping watch for enemy ships which the sailors felt sure were nearby. On deck with a number of his men was the commander of the craft, Howard W. Gilmore, 40, a middle-sized man, quiet, resolute, unpretentious; a man who, as his classmates put it “would never stand out in a crowd, but you’d like the minute you saw him.”

The submarine had not been on the surface long when the commander’s keen eyes sighted an enemy man-of-war nearby. At about the same moment the enemy vessel picked up the submarine in its searchlights and as quickly as possible turned and tried to ram it.

Just as quickly, Commander Gilmore swung the submarine around, dodged the attack, and counterattacked at a speed of seventeen knots an hour. His aim was good. The submarine tore a large hole in the gunboat’s hull. She slowly settled and began to sink. As she gently slipped down into the ocean, with the American submarine in the full glare of her strong searchlights, her heavy machine guns sent round after round of shells into the midst of the group of men on the top of the submarine. Some of the men were killed instantly, and the commander was seriously wounded. A fast dive beneath the water would save the submarine, but it would not give the crewmen on top time to get their wounded commander down the hatch to safety. Yet to take the time would endanger the ship and the lives of all the crew.

Helpless to move from the bridge, which was fully exposed to the enemy’s machine guns, Gilmore ordered the submarine to submerge. His comrades rushed to his aid, determined to carry him below. Every second meant much.

The Navy record in telling of this action says, “In his final living moments he gave his last order to the officer of the deck: ‘Take her down!’”

In the Navy, orders must be obeyed. The men hurried below, the hatch clanged shut, and the submarine vanished into the deep. Her wounded commander floated away in the darkness, never to be seen again.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. Gilmore gave his life that others might live. He followed in the footsteps of our Master, who was willing to die that you and I might have eternal life.—By C. L. Paddock, Our Times, December 1948.

Quote: When Drexelius was asked by his friend Faustinus how he could do so much as he had done, he answered: “The year has three hundred and sixty-five days, or eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours. In so many hours great things may be done. The slow tortoise made a long journey by losing no time.”—By Bishop Horne, Signs of the Times, August 23, 1910.

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

NEW from Pacific Press—The Vegetarian Advantage by Don Hall, DRPH, CHES. Does diet affect health? Absolutely! Using medical research and science, Dr. Don Hall shows how you can lower your blood pressure, enhance your brain power, reduce your risk of developing chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes, coronary artery disease and certain cancers, simply by adopting a wholesome plant-based diet of whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. So what are you waiting for? Start today and live a longer, healthier, happier life!

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Detail.tpl?sku=0816324301 Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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

A minister was conducting some evangelistic meetings in a certain town. One evening after the service a woman who was anxious about her eternal welfare told the minister that she could not believe that Christ was her Saviour. The minister knew her personally and said, “Mrs. Franklin, how long have you been Mrs. Franklin?”

“Why,” she replied, “ever since I married Mr. Franklin.”

“And when did you become Mrs. Franklin?”

“Why, when the minister said, ‘Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband?’”

“Did you say,” interrupted the evangelist, “ ‘I’ll see,’ or ‘I hope so’?”

“No,” she replied, “I said, ‘I will.’”

“Mrs. Franklin, God is saying to you, ‘Will you take My Son as your personal Saviour?’”

“My,” she exclaimed, “is that the way? Is that the way? What a fool I have been not to do it before! Yes, I will. I do take Jesus to be my personal Saviour.”—By George S. Ashlock, These Times, June 1952.

Quote: “Do we want to study geology? Behold, He is the Rock of Ages. Do we want to study astronomy? Behold, He is the bright and morning star. “Do we want to study botany? Behold, He is the lily of the valley and the chiefest among ten thousand. Do we want to study biology? Behold, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is the secret of life. There is not a science in this world that is not suggested by that matchless, peerless Christ, who is the living embodiment, the flower of art, and the inspiration of every page of that divine Book.”—By George F. Pentecost, Signs of the Times, October 21, 1897.

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

Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Want to bring someone to Jesus in 2011? Send Signs of the Times! This proven soul winner is colorful, contemporary, and persuasive. Subscribe today and see how easy witnessing can be. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: www.pacificpress.com/signs

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

“If I only had more faith,” said a woman who was temporarily laid aside by an accident; “if I only had more faith, I should get well sooner.”

“Madam,” said her physician, “patience is sometimes as great a virtue as faith.”

How often mountains of difficulty would as silently melt away before the gentleness of patience, as snow before the breath of summer’s sunshine.—Unknown, Signs of the Times, June 12, 1884.

Quote: “Not to the strong, but to the faithful, is it given to achieve the victories that endure.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, June 12, 1884.

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

Read articles from past issues of Signs of the Times at: www.pacificpress.com/signs

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

Recipe for Scandal Monger

Take a grain of falsehood, a handful of run-about, a sprig of herb of backbite, a teaspoonful of don’t-you-tell-it, six drams of malice, and a few drops of envy. Stir well and let simmer for an hour. Add a little discontent and jealousy, then strain through a bag of misconstruction. Cork it in a bottle of malevolence and hang it on a skein of street yarn. Shake it occasionally for a few days and it will be ready for use. Take a few drops before going out to walk, and you will become a scandal monger.—Selected, Signs of the Times, September 12, 1906.

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

Visit two new sites: www.ChapelMusic.com and www.AdventisteBooks.com

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

A young woman and her brother were rebuked for reading the Bible. She replied: “A little while ago my brother was an idler, a gambler, a drunkard, and made such a noise in the house that no one could stay in it. Since he began to read the Bible, he works with industry, goes no longer to the tavern, no longer touches cards, brings home money to his poor old mother, and our life at home is quiet and delightful. How comes it that a bad book produces such good fruits?”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, June 21, 1910.

Quote: “A change of character accomplishes more than a change of climate.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, August, 16, 1910.

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

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