October 2012 Signs of the Times Newsletter (forward to your friends)

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October 2012 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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One bleak winter day a man stood beside the window in his house watching the birds outside search vainly for food in his garden. Pity filled his heart as he saw them hopping about on the snow, scarcely able to move because of the cold. “How can I help them?” he mused.

Then an idea struck. He would lure them inside. He opened the window and laid a trail of grain and bread crumbs leading from the garden, through the open window, and into the house. But the birds would not enter.

He went outside and tried to drive them in, but he only frightened them out of the garden altogether. “Oh,” he said to himself, “if only I were a bird, then they would understand me and would follow me, and I could save them.”

Whereupon, a great insight about Christ flashed into his mind. Looking upward, he cried, “O God, now at last I understand. The only way You could save mankind was to become one of us Yourself, and through Your love for us, lead us to safety.”—By T. R. Torkelson, Signs of the Times, April 1974.

Quote: “Religion is never fashionable. The way of peace is not the broad way superintended by the world of fashion, but the narrow way watched by the Redeemer.”—By D. L. Moody, Signs of the Times, August 15, 1922.

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Don't miss the November 2012 issue of Signs of the Times: “Life on Fast Forward”, “10 Steps to a Healthy Heart”, “Eternal Torment?”, “The Terrible Twos”, “Who Is the Holy Spirit”, “Blessed Are Those Who Mourn” and other important articles.

To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at www.pacificpress.com/signs

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Wise King Solomon warned us to be on guard against little foxes that destroy the vines of tender grapes. The Apostle Paul advised the early church not to be anxious about things. Our Lord said that we should be of good cheer; He had overcome the world, and we, with His help and blessing, could overcome it. Yet so many of us are injured, our usefulness destroyed, by small, harassing things. We do not guard ourselves against the minor tensions that enter our minds and eat away the very fiber of faith and power like termites.

We should think seriously about the terrible catastrophe that struck along the St. Lawrence River in 1907. Toward dusk on August 29 the huge cantilever bridge collapsed without warning. Seventy laborers plunged to destruction with the tangled mass of girders and beams. The world was stunned by the news. What on earth had happened?

There was no special weight on the bridge. The engineers said the bridge should have carried twice the weight. Indeed, what had happened?

“Search the ruins!” ordered the owners of the bridge. “Find out what went wrong!”

An investigation revealed a simple, tragic fact. The huge bridge had collapsed because a small supporting beam had failed. The rivets of the beam were a trifle too small; they did not fit snugly into the holes. Workmen had supposed the rivets would be all right, but vibrations and shifts in pressure had weakened them, and the beam had begun to sag out of proper alignment. As it sagged, tension had increased until it finally buckled. The tremendous bridge had collapsed because of a few undersize rivets and a single supporting beam.

How often the same thing happens in human life!—By Philip Jerome Cleveland, These Times, October 1959.

Quote: “It is better to burn the candle at both ends, and in the middle too, than to put it away in the closet and let the mice eat it.”—By Henry van Dyke, These Times, July 1963.

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NEW from Pacific Press—A Taste of Travel by Nancy Lyon Kyte. The world is a fascinating place, filled with a diversity of textures, colors, and tastes guaranteed to stir your curiosity. But one thing common to most cultures is the pleasure found in sitting down to a bowl of warm soup or stew. Nancy Lyon Kyte has collected recipes from over 130 countries around the world. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, you can enjoy the ultimate comfort food from a different country every night!

Read the first chapter of this book online at: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Detail.tpl?sku=0816328714 During the month of October this great cookbook is 25% off! Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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Jesus met death head on and conquered it. Death is on the way out! It won’t be around much longer.

There is a story about a little boy. His mother had a terrible fear of dying, and her small son knew it. One day he went to church and came back all excited. “Oh, Mother,” he said breathlessly, “you don’t have to be afraid to die anymore, because Jesus went through the tomb and left a light behind Him!”

That’s the only light!—By Marjorie Lewis Lloyd, Signs of the Times, April 1977.

Quote: “There is no ideal like that of a reliable character.”—By Henry Ward Beecher, Signs of the Times, January 24, 1928.

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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Sending Signs is an EASY and friendly way to witness! Win your friends and family to Jesus by sending them a gift subscription to Signs of the Times®. Join the thousands who have discovered this EFFECTIVE way to share their faith!

Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: www.pacificpress.com/signs

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There was once an old monk walking through the forest with a little scholar by his side. The old man suddenly stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was beginning to peep above the ground; the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth; the third was a small shrub; whilst the fourth and last was a full-sized tree. Then the old monk said to his young companion:

“Pull up the first.”

The youth easily pulled it up with his fingers.

“Now pull the second.”

The youth obeyed, but not so easily.

“And the third.”

But the boy had to put forth all his strength, and use both arms, before he succeeded in uprooting it.

“And now,” said the master, “try your hand upon the fourth.”

But lo! The trunk of the tall tree (grasped in the arms of the youth) scarcely shook its leaves; and the little fellow found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth.

Then the wise old monk explained to his scholar the meaning of the four trials.

“This, my son, is just what happens with our passions. When they are young and weak, one may, by a little watchfulness over self, and the help of a little self-denial, easily tear them up, but if we let them cast their roots deep down into our souls, then no human power can uproot them, the almighty hand of the Creator alone can pluck them out.

“For this reason, my child, watch well over the first movements of your soul, and study by acts of virtue to keep your passions well in check.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, March 26, 1885.

Quote: “He who can take advice is sometimes superior to him who can give it.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, September 17, 1885.

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Visit the redesigned Adventist Book Center online: www.AdventistBookCenter.com

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In ancient times it was the custom of rulers to keep a court jester for amusement. A certain nobleman had a jester to whom he gave his staff, charging him to keep it till he met a greater fool. When the jester met such a man, he was to hand over the staff. Not many years later, the nobleman fell sick. When the master said he knew he was going to die, the jester asked, “And whither wilt thou go?”

“On a long journey,” replied his master.

“And when wilt thou come again? Within a month? A year? Or when?” asked the jester.

“Never,” sighed his master.

“What provision hast thou made for whither thou goest?”

“None at all,” admitted the nobleman.

“Art thou going away forever and hast made no provision for thy departure?” asked the jester. “Here, take the staff, for I am not guilty of such a folly as that.”

The court jester had found a bigger fool.—By Kenneth J. Holland, These Times, January 1982.

Quote: “Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground in silent or vocal prayer.”—By George Whitefield, These Times, November 1966.

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Visit: www.ChapelMusic.com (make sure to notice the FREE music download available) and www.AdventisteBooks.com

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How to Treat One Another

Galatians 5:13—Serve one another.

Romans 14:19—Edify one another.

Hebrews 3:13—Exhort one another.

Ephesians 4:32—Forgive one another.

Colossians 3:9—Lie not to one another.

Hebrews 10:24—Consider one another.

Ephesians 4:32—Be kind to one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:18—Comfort one another.

Galatians 6:2—Bear one another’s burdens.

1 Peter 5:5—Be subject to one another.

Romans 14:13—Don’t judge one another.

Mark 9:50—Have peace with one another.

James 4:11—Speak not evil of one another.

Romans 15:5—Be like minded to one another.

James 5:9—Grudge not against one another.

1 Peter 4:9—Use hospitality to one another.

Colossians 3:16—Teach and admonish one another.

Ephesians 5:21—Submit yourselves to one another.

1 John 1:7—Have fellowship with one another.

James 5:15—Confess your faults to one another.

James 5:15—Pray for one another, that ye may be healed.—By William Ward Simpson, Signs of the Times, May 16, 1900.

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Read articles from previous issues of Signs of the Times: www.SignsTimes.org

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Jesus

He who is the bread of life, began

His ministry hungering.

He who is the water of life, ended

His ministry thirsting.

Christ hungered as a man and fed

the hungry as God.

He was weary, yet He is our rest.

He paid tribute, yet He is a King.

He was called a devil and cast out devils.

He prayed, yet He hears our prayers.

He wept, and He dries our tears.

He is sold for thirty pieces of silver,

and redeems the world.

He is led as a lamb to the slaughter

and is the Good Shepherd.

He dies and gives His life, and

dying destroys death.

Come to Him and be saved.—Anonymous, These Times, May 1959.

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Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.