September 2013 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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September 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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The story is told of Benezet, a poor French school teacher who lived in Philadelphia. He was so kind and helpful that when he died nearly the whole city came to his funeral. One of the generals of the Revolutionary Army said: “I would rather be Anthony Benezet in his coffin than General Washington in all his glory.” A life of service and sympathy is worth more to the world than the career of the statesman or conqueror.—By Kay M. Adams, Signs of the Times, April 1925.

Quote: “Some people are so pitiably poor that they do not have so much as two ideas to rub together while waiting for the train.”—By Robert Louis Stevenson, Signs of the Times, February 2, 1926.

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Don't miss the October 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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A few years ago a glider crashed near St. Louis, Missouri. In the careful investigation that followed, the cause of the accident was determined. A part supporting a portion of the right wing gave way, causing it to break loose from the fuselage. The defective part was only ninety one-thousandths of an inch below the Army Air Force requirement for thickness. It was apparently only a very “little thing,” but the results were disastrous. Ten persons lost their lives because of a “little thing”—ninety one-thousandths of an inch shortage in a glider part!

Many years ago a cow kicked over a lantern in a Chicago barn. Soon the straw on the floor was ablaze. The fire spread. In those days (1871) fire-fighting apparatus had not been developed to its present-day efficiency and soon the whole suburb and a sizable portion of the city was in flames. By the time the fire was brought under control, 17,000 buildings had been razed, 100,000 people were homeless, and the estimated damage climbed to a colossal $200,000,000. All this was the result of a “little thing”—just the overturning of a common hurricane lantern.

The wise man, Solomon, declares that it is “the little foxes, that spoil the vines.” (Song of Solomon 2:15.)—By Robert H. Pierson, These Times, March 1952.

Quote: “The criterion for a church is not how many persons we can get to come into a church building, but how many we can get to go out to be a minister.”—By Peter Routh, These Times, November 1967.

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NEW from Pacific Press—In The Book That Changed the World, a group of Seventh-day Adventist scholars make a fresh contribution on the King James Version so that you will gain a deeper appreciation of this faith classic. Reading this book will encourage you to read the Bible and will help you to see it in a new light. The Bible is God’s message to us. It changed the world in the seventeenth century, and more than four hundred years later, it is still changing the world.

Read the first chapter of this book online at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/the-book-that-changed-the-world.html Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.

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Craig and Patricia had been married twenty-five years. During that time they had worked hard and denied themselves much. Both had held down jobs. They had never taken a vacation—a vacation out of town that cost money. They did not go to the movies; neither of them smoked or drank. All during the twenty-five years of their hard work together they had had a plan. It was a plan to retire when they had accumulated a predetermined amount of money that they had mutually agreed upon. A little while ago they achieved their goal.

Week by week through the long, hard years they had watched their little fortune grow. They needed the stimulus of seeing the actual cash, so they had saved currency, changing small bills into larger ones as the right amount was saved. Patricia kept the currency upon her person, to make sure nothing would happen to it. At last they had enough--$43,500. (This was written in 1953.)

Then something terrible happened. At last report no one seemed to know just what happened to the money. As near as Patricia knew, it had got mixed with some trash and had been burned up in the back yard. A lifetime’s savings! $43,500! Gone up in smoke in a few moments of carelessness, after all their hard work!

Yes, he knew that Craig and Patricia had a considerable sum of money that they were going to deposit in the bank sometime soon, the banker told reporters. But no deposit was made.

Patricia had intended to go to the bank on Monday afternoon, but had worked overtime at her job.

On Tuesday the money was gone. All of it.

How careless many of us are! And how many ways there are to lose money! We fix our eyes upon a material goal, disregarding the spiritual things of life. We bend every energy to achieve our aim. Denying ourselves human pleasures along the way. We count on some future time for happiness. God calls us to stop and consider Him and His ways, but we are too busy. We must have the money, the house, the car—all the material things. Finally we are about to reach our goal. Just a little further—and it has gone!—By R. E. Finney, Signs of the Times, November 24, 1953.

Quote: “If our doubts do not prevail so far as to make us leave off praying, our prayers will prevail so far as to make us leave off doubting.”—By Henry Hickman, Signs of the Times, May 17, 1910.

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Who can tell the result of a prayer uttered in sincerity? Little the one praying knows what may be the outcome of his heaven-sent words.

A life-boat went out on a dangerous coast to the relief of a shipwrecked vessel. The waves ran high, and threatened to swamp the boat. At last the coxswain said:

“Mates, shall we turn back? We are going to certain death. The ship has sunk, and doubtless all hands have gone down with her.”

There was a moment’s hesitation, and then one man cried out: “No, let’s go on. As I ran down the beach, I passed two ladies on their knees praying for the lives of the men in yonder wreck. I believe God will hear them. I believe we may yet find some alive.” His words had such an effect on the crew that they plucked up courage and rowed on midst the breakers. They picked up five poor fellows, one by one, clinging to the wreckage or otherwise supporting themselves.—Selected, Signs of the Times, January 28, 1897.

Quote: “Bring prayers close together. They will put sins far apart.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, January 21, 1930.

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Dr. Pentecost met an infidel who declared that the reason he did not believe the Bible was that he did not know the Author.

“Do you know the author of the multiplication table?” asked Dr. Pentecost.

“No,” replied the skeptic.

“Then I suppose, being a scientific man and a conscientious skeptic, you never use the multiplication table.”

“Oh, yes,” was the reply, “that proves itself to be true by its works.”

“Then may we not also know that the Bible is a work of absolute authority, because its works in its own sphere prove itself true?”

“By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20), the Bible tells us, and I am sure that you accept this as a sufficient rule.—By Earle Albert Rowell, Signs of the Times, July 20, 1926.

Quote: “Evils in the journey of life are like the hills which alarm travelers on the road. Both appear great at a distance, but when we approach them we find they are far less insurmountable than we had conceived.”—By Colton, Signs of the Times, December 21, 1954.

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I have met many persons who said they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit, but they were quite hostile to the claims of the commandments of God. They have told me they live far above the law; they live high up in the realm of the Spirit, and not down on the level of the law. May I illustrate this point as follows:

Here is a small boy who comes up to his mother and puts his arms around her neck and says to her: “Mother, I love you dearly. I really do.”

The mother is quite pleased with this demonstration and with these ardent words of love told her by her little son. Suddenly she remembers that she has something for him to do. So she says, “Well, my boy, I’m very glad you love mother. I have something for you to do right now. The coal bucket is empty, and the wood box also needs filling. So, my boy, I shall be happy to have you bring up a bucket of coal and fill the wood box.”

Wouldn’t the mother be surprised to hear the little boy say, “Oh, mother, I don’t love you down there among the coal buckets and the wood boxes. I love you away up in the Spirit.”—By Charles T. Everson, Signs of the Times, September 5, 1939.

Quote: “The heart which can carry the burdens and sorrows of even the most forsaken, which can make room for the griefs and toils and cares of the hapless multitude, is filled without measure with the life and love of God.—By Charles Miel, Signs of the Times, February 20, 1940.

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Has the largest cash capital: “The unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8.

Assets:

Real estate: “An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” 1 Peter 1:4.

Cash in the bank: “Gold tried in the fire.” Revelation 3:18.

Surplus over all liabilities: “Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20.

Condition for insurance: “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts. 20:21.

President: “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3.

Vice President: Jesus, the “King of kings.” Revelation 19:16.

There are five important reasons for insuring in this company:

1. It is the oldest insurance company that the world knows.

2. It is the only company insuring against loss by fire in the great judgment day.

3. It is the only company insuring against shipwreck in the river of death.

4. Its policies are never-ending, giving the holder eternal life.

5. It insures a man for far more than he is worth.

A few important notes for policy seekers:

1. All applicants come directly to the President, in the name of His only Son.

2. When to come: “Now is the accepted time.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. After death the judgment. Hebrews 9:27. Then it will be eternally too late. Insure without delay.—Selected, Signs of the Times, January 23, 1912.

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