April 2013 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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April 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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Here is a good text for hard times: “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

In an old-time industrial area of England a mill proprietor had reduced his force. One of the men dismissed was an earnest, praying man who was famed in the town for always repeating the saying, “The Lord will provide.” The ungodly of the day sometimes laughed at his repetition of faith. With employment hard to find, people wondered what he could say now. We are told:

“One day when he had eaten his last morsel of food and his faith was tried to the utmost, some street boys, opening the door, flung in a dead raven, shouting mockingly, ‘The Lord will provide!’

“He quietly took up the dead bird and tenderly stroked its plumage. Suddenly he felt something hard in the crop of the bird, and wondering what it was, he took a knife and opened it. To his amazement he found there a gold chain. He felt here was God providing for him and his family. He went straight to the jeweler, telling his story, and asked if he would buy it.

“The jeweler saw it to be a chain of great value, with initials on it, and said: ‘If you could learn the name of the owner, would you return it?’

“ ‘Certainly,’ replied the workman.

“ ‘Well, then’ said the jeweler, ‘it belongs to your recent employer.’

“Hearing that, the man set off without delay, and put the chain into his former employer’s hands, who received it with great joy, as he had, on missing it, accused one of his servants of theft. Greatly struck with his workman’s honesty, he told him he wished him to return to his employment, as he could not part with so honest a man.”—By W. A. Spicer, Signs of the Times, February 14, 1941.

Quote: “Trim your lamp, so it will give more light and less smoke.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, May 6, 1930.

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Don't miss the May 2013 issue of Signs of the Times: 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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If you are lonely, you need the touch of a human hand. You need to hear a human voice. You need to look into eyes that care. You can’t fall in love with a machine or pray to some intangible, impersonal force!

A small boy, admitted to a hospital for some minor surgery, was placed in a room where a wall speaker made it possible for nurse and patient to talk to each other without the nurse having to leave her desk.

After Bobby was awake from the anesthetic, the nurse called his room and asked, “Bobby, how are you feeling?”

There was no answer. Again, “Bobby, are you all right? How are you feeling?” Still there was no answer. The third time the nurse was more insistent, “Bobby, answer me. How are you feeling?”

Back came a small, timid voice, “I’m all right, wall.”

Too many people are talking to the wall, and counting the flies on the windowpane, and playing games with wallpaper. Too many people are calling the time of day just to hear a human voice. And training parakeets to say, “I love you.” And swallowing terror-reducing drugs to try to relieve the hurt!—By George Vandeman, These Times, October 1980.

Quote: “The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us.”—By Oswald Chambers, These Times, July 1965.

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NEW from Pacific Press—No Greater Love by Karl Haffner. Any memorial to someone who makes the ultimate sacrifice seems pitifully insufficient. No memorial, no book, no building, no medal of honor, no song, no story can adequately honor such love. This book contains a collection of stories of people who gave their all, who put the needs of others above their own. While these stories dimly illuminate the Cross, any insight into the sacrifice of Jesus is worthy of our attention. So visit the cross and remember. Remember the blood. Remember the broken body. Remember the death. And rejoice in God’s undying love.

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/no-greater-love-book-html.html Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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On a trip to Paris, Dr. Malan, of Geneva, Switzerland, fell into conversation with a man who began to reason about Christianity. The Doctor answered every argument with quotations from the Scriptures, never using any of his own words. Finally the other man seemed irritated and turned away saying, “Don’t you see that I don’t believe your Bible? What’s the use of quoting it to me?” He fairly screamed the words.

The only reply was another thrust with the Bible sword, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.

Years afterward, Dr. Malan tore open a letter addressed in an unfamiliar handwriting and read: “You took the Sword of the Spirit and stabbed me through and through. Every time I tried to parry the blade and get you to use your hands and not the heavenly steel, you simply gave me another stab. It made me feel that I was not fighting you, but God.” This letter was from the man whom he had met so long before. God had finally reached his heart. So the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit.—By H. M. S. Richards, Our Times, August 1949.

Quote: “Remember that unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment.”—By Dale Carnegie, These Times, July 1967.

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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Signs of the Times brings hope and inspiration to thousands each month! Send a subscription today and see what a difference Signs can make. 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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Sam Jones was talking to a man of weak faith the other day. The doubter asked if Mr. Jones could give him a demonstration of religion.

“None,” was the reply. “You must get inside the fold, and the demonstration will come of itself. Humble yourself, have faith, and you shall know the truth.”

“In other words, I must believe, accept it before it is proved, and believe it without proof?”

“No, hold on right here. Out west they have a place for watering cattle. The cattle have to mount a platform to reach the troughs. As they step on a platform their weight presses a lever, and this throws the water into the troughs. They have to get on the platform through faith, and this act provides the water and leads them to it. You are like a smart steer that slips around to the barnyard and looks in the trough, without getting on the platform. He finds the trough dry, of course, for it needs his weight on the platform to force the water up. He turns away disgusted, and tells everybody there is no water in the trough. Another steer, not quite so smart, but with more faith, steps on the platform. The water springs into the trough, and he marches up and drinks. That’s the way with religion. You’ve got to get on to the platform. You can’t even examine it intelligently until you are on the platform. If you slide around the back way, you’ll find the trough dry. But step on the platform, and the water and the faith come together without any trouble—certain and sure, and abundant.”—Detroit Free Press, Signs of the Times, January 3, 1884.

Quote: “We are too Christian really to enjoy sinning, and too fond of sinning really to enjoy Christianity. Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we do not want to do it.”—By Peter Marshall, These Times, August 1965.

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Christian Storytelling by Eric B. Hare and Arthur Spaulding is one of the finest books ever written to teach the principles of storytelling. This classic book by two master storytellers is once again available. The book is also filled with great stories for children’s story time at church, schools and home worships.

Print version: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/christian-storytelling.html

EBook: http://www.adventistebooks.com/Christian-Storytelling-Eric-B.-Hare,-Arthur-W.-Spalding/ebook/9780816326570/

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Christ and His People

He descended that we might ascend. (John 6:33; 14:3.)

He became poor that we might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9; James 2:5.)

He was born that we might be born again. (John 1:14; 3:3, 7.)

He became a servant that we might become sons. (Philippians 2:7; Galatians 4:6, 7.)

He had no home that we might have a home in heaven. (Matthew 8:20; John 14:2.)

He was hungry that we might be fed. (Matthew 4:2; John 6:50.)

He was thirsty that we might drink of the well of salvation. (John 19:28; Isaiah 12:3.)

He was wearied that we might rest. (John 4:6; Matthew 11:29.)

He was stripped that we might be clothed. (Matthew 27:28; Romans 3:22.)

He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken. (Matthew 27:46; Hebrews 13:5.)

He was sad that we might be glad. (Isaiah 53:3; Philippians 4:4.)

He was bound that we might go free. (Matthew 27:2; John 8:32-36.)

He was made sin that we might be made righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21.)

He died that we might live. (John 19:33; 5:24, 25.)

He will come down that we may be caught up. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.)—The Evangel, These Times, June 1969.

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

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

On a trip to Paris, Dr. Malan, of Geneva, Switzerland, fell into conversation with a man who began to reason about Christianity. The Doctor answered every argument with quotations from the Scriptures, never using any of his own words. Finally the other man seemed irritated and turned away saying, “Don’t you see that I don’t believe your Bible? What’s the use of quoting it to me?” He fairly screamed the words.

The only reply was another thrust with the Bible sword, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.

Years afterward, Dr. Malan tore open a letter addressed in an unfamiliar handwriting and read: “You took the Sword of the Spirit and stabbed me through and through. Every time I tried to parry the blade and get you to use your hands and not the heavenly steel, you simply gave me another stab. It made me feel that I was not fighting you, but God.” This letter was from the man whom he had met so long before. God had finally reached his heart. So the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit.—By H. M. S. Richards, Our Times, August 1949.

Seems to answer some of the doubt caused by the naysayers of God's persistence to reach their hearts and encourages the disciple who submits to the great commission asked of him/her.

" And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."

Mark 16:15 NLT

God cares!