February 2013 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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February 2013 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 beautiful morning in the spring of 1863,” says a writer in Zion’s Watchman, “I was on a passenger train on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, crossing the green glades of the Alleghenies westward. At the time the road was held alternately by the Federal and Confederate troops, and travel was neither safe nor pleasant. The train was behind time, and whirled rapidly around the curves, across bridges, and over fields, so that many faces wore a look of anxiety.

“Presently a little girl of four or five came along the aisle, and I engaged her in conversation, asking her how it was that she was not afraid. In a clear, sweet voice, which I shall never forget, she said, ‘Some mornings I am afraid, but there is no danger this morning, for papa is running the engine.’ “—Quoted by Charles L. Paddock, Signs of the Times, May 11, 1926.

Quote: “We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but we have only the few hours before sunset to win them.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, March 26, 1940.

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Don't miss the March 2013 issue of Signs of the Times: “The Ten That Set Us Free”, “A Reason to Hope”, “God’s Plan to Solve the Problem of Evil”, “The Health Risks of Energy Drinks”, “God’s Promise for Your Future”, “How to Live to 100”, “Seeking God’s Will for Your Life” and other important articles.

To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-yearly-us-subscription.html

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Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum tells the story of a Hasidic rabbi, renowned for his piety and compassion, who was unexpectedly confronted one day by one of his devoted youthful disciples in their house of prayer and study. In a burst of feeling, the disciple exclaimed, “My master, I love you.”

The ancient teacher slowly looked up from his books and then asked his fervent disciple, “Do you know what hurts me, my son?”

The young man was baffled. Composing himself, he stuttered, “I don’t understand your question, rabbi. I am trying to tell you how much you mean to me, and you confuse me with strange questions.”

“My question to you is not at all strange or irrelevant,” the rabbi stated. “It is the very soul of understanding love and compassion. For if you do not know what hurts me, how can you truly love me?”

But marvelous as is human compassion, God’s loving-kindness is greater. It has dimensions of incomparable significance. Does God know what hurts us? Can He help us? To ask the question is to answer it. Listen:

“He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).

“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Psalm 34:15).—By Kenneth J. Holland, These Times, October 1975.

Quote: “Knowledge is the back door to God. Faith is the front door.”—By Paul Boese, These Times, November 1966.

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NEW from Pacific Press—What the Bible Says About by Mark A. Finley. If you have questions about God and faith, life and death, the present and the future, the Bible provides reliable, credible answers. Rather than give you opinions or sermons, What the Bible Says About is especially designed to give you answers directly from Scripture. With this study guide, what the Bible says will be made more understandable. Allow God’s Word to answer your deepest questions and speak to your heart’s deepest needs. On sale during the month of February for 25% off, now is the perfect time to pick up your copy and one for a friend who may have unanswered questions.

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/what-the-bible-says-about-7117.html Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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Develop a positive, optimistic philosophy of life, free from any type of self-pity; a philosophy that will carry you through hard and trying experiences and crisis hours. Reverses will come to you, as they come to all, and only your thinking, your attitudes, your hopes, and your ambitions will sustain you.

This attitude is illustrated by a comment made by Theodore Roosevelt when he was told he would be crippled with arthritis for life. Did he turn sour and begin to pity himself for the calamity that had befallen him? He did not! His cheerful and positive reply was, “I can live that way, too.”

When Michael Dowling was a lad of fourteen, he was so badly frozen in a Minnesota blizzard that the doctor amputated both legs, one arm, and all the fingers on the other hand except the thumb. But not once did he pity himself. Instead he proposed to the state that if they would give him a set of artificial limbs and a year’s schooling, he would be self-supporting from then on. They accepted his offer. Dowling crowded four years’ schooling into one and became eligible to teach at the end of it. After teaching a number of years, he became a senator. During his stay in Washington, he pleased President McKinley so well that McKinley sent him to the Philippines as an ambassador of good will to interest the sultan in education.

The sultan was not interested and refused to listen to Dowling’s pleas and arguments. At his wits end, Dowling knew he would have to do something to jar the apathetic ruler from his complacency. He kicked off one of his wooden legs and threw it down in front of the sultan. He then kicked off the other and threw it down. The sultan blinked his yes and began to wake up. When Dowling threw down his arm on the pile, the sultan could scarcely believe his eyes. Then Dowling grabbed his head and made believe he was going to throw it on the heap too.

The old sultan, more than awake now, shouted, “Keep your head on! I want to hear what you have to say.” Then Dowling held up his one thumb and told the ruler what could be accomplished through education if one had only one thumb, a mind, and a will to work. The sultan was convinced, and implemented Dowling’s suggestions.—By Alfreda Costerisan, These Times, January 1953.

Quote: “Remember that God ruled the world before you arrived and will likely rule it after you’re gone. Why not let Him rule it today?”—Unknown, seen on the wall of a pastor’s study, These Times, October 1959.

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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Would you like to win that friend or neighbor to Jesus? Share a GIFT that will reach out to them all year long. Send a subscription to Signs of the Times by visiting AdventistBookCenter.com or phone 1-800-545-2449

This year, give your friends and loved ones a gift subscription to Signs of the Times. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-yearly-us-subscription.html

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There was a little mission on North Wells Street. Young Dwight L. Moody applied to teach a Sunday School class. He was told that the sixteen teachers were amply able to instruct the twelve scholars, but if he would provide his own class, they would be very glad to let him teach it. This was just what Mr. Moody wanted. The next Sunday there was a sensation. Young Moody opened the door and led in a procession of eighteen little “hoodlums,” whom he had gathered from the streets.—By William R. Moody, Signs of the Times, May 9, 1900.

Quote: “What greater calamity can fall upon a nation than the loss of worship? Then all things go to decay. Genius leaves the temple to haunt the senate or the market. Literature becomes frivolous. Science is cold. The eye of youth is not lighted by the hope of other worlds, age is without honor, society lives to trifles, and when men die, we do not mention them!”—By Ralph Waldo Emerson, These Times, March 1954.

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There is the story of the old woman who, come down to a meager supply of food, was praying one night for bread. As she was thus talking to God, there passed by the raised window an infidel who, hearing her voice stopped to listen.

As she prayed for bread, the infidel thought to play a joke on the old lady, and from his provision basket rolled a loaf of bread into the room beside her. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes, saw the loaf of bread and thanked God for sending the bread.

This was more than the infidel could well stand; so, stepping into the opened door, he told her the Lord had not sent the bread as she supposed, but that he had made the contribution himself.

Giving expression to her faith, she replied, “Ah, no! The Lord sent it even if the devil did bring it.”—By J. Walter Rich, Signs of the Times, April 28, 1936.

Quote: “Never trifle with one sin. It is like a little cloud, which, as a poet has said, may hold a hurricane in its grasp. The next sin you commit may have a mighty effect in the blighting of your life. You do not know the streams that may flow from that fountain, for sin is a fountain—not a mere act, but a fountain of evil.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, April 5, 1905.

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Looking for a GREAT e-Book—for the best selection of Adventist e-books visit: 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 5:16—Confess your faults to one another.

James 5:16—Pray for one another, that ye may be healed.

Arranged by William Ward Simpson, Signs of the Times, May 16, 1900.

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

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