September 2017 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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September 2017 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues ofSigns and These Times. ***************************      A bright boy heard and was deeply impressed by the text, “My son, give Me thine heart.” Satan whispered, “Time enough yet,” and he put it off.      Ten years later a brilliant young collegian heard the same text under circumstances which seemed to make that the time of his salvation. Again the tempter whispered, “Time enough yet.”      Twenty years later a statesman of no mean renown listened to the same text from an aged bishop, and felt it to be a message to himself. This time the tempter said, “Visit foreign countries before you give God your heart.”      A traveler in Paris was stricken with cholera. His greatest suffering was agony of soul because he was not prepared to die, and had not now time to get ready. His last words were, “Too late.”      The boy, the collegian, the statesman, and the traveler were one. Procrastination is Satan’s best game.—Unknown, Signs of the Times, July 5, 1910. Quote: “One watch set right will do to set many by; on the other hand, one that goes wrong may be the means of misleading a whole neighborhood, and the same may be said of the example we each set to those around us.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, March 18, 1913. *************************** Don't miss the ­­­­­­­­October 2017 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or CLICK HERE to order online. ***************************      A sheep man in Indiana was troubled by his neighbors’ dogs who were killing his sheep. Sheep men usually counter that problem with lawsuits or barbed-wire fences or even shotguns, but this man went to work on his neighbors with a better idea.      To every neighbor’s child he gave a lamb or two as pets; and in due time when all his neighbors had their own small flocks they began to tie up their dogs, and that put an end to the problem.      So it goes all through the New Testament: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21. The power is in the yes, and there are many common-sense ways of applying it to the practical problems of life.—By J. Wallace Hamilton, These Times, August 1964. Quote: “He best keeps from anger who remembers that God is always looking upon him.”—By Plato, These Times, June 1967. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Ending the Pain by Lindsey Gendke is the compelling account of a young woman’s journey from desperation to hope. It traces how she moved away from the destructive lies that crippled her faith toward the only Truth that could set her free. Lindsey’s story will resonate with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, discouraged, or tired of playing church. The chances are high you already know someone facing this same struggle. CLICK to read the first chapter of this book online FREE! CLICK to order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955. ***************************      You will recall the old story of the Duke of Wellington. One day a minister came to him and asked if he thought foreign missions should be carried on.      The Iron Duke said, “What are your orders?”      The minister quoted the great commission.      “What!” exclaimed the Duke, “those are your orders and you discuss doing it?” To a man whose first instinct was to obey an order, it seemed treason to debate the matter. So it is!—By John A. McAfee, These Times, March 1959. Quote: “Never write in a hurry. Even a common note upon the most common business should be written as if it were one day to be read in court or published in a newspaper.”—By Dr. Benjamin Rush, in a letter to his son James, a student at Princeton, May 25, 1802,These Times, May 1964. *************************** NEW from Signs of the Times! Special issue on Martin Luther to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Perfect to share in your community! CLICK HERE to order. ***************************      When Sir Walter Scott, the great Scottish novelist, was lying on his deathbed, he called his trusted servant to his side and said with slow, almost inarticulate utterance, “Read----to----me----a----little----from----the----Book.”      As he had many books in his library, the servant immediately inquired, “What book, Sir Walter?”      Scott replied: “Why-----do----you----ask? There----is ----but----one----book----the----Bible.”—By John L. Shuler, Signs of the Times, November 3, 1942. Quote:  “It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine.”—By D. L. Moody, Signs of the Times. *************************** Please include this note in your church newsletter: Want to connect with your neighbor? Maybe a loved one far away? Each monthly issue of Signs of the Times® offers a colorful and interesting presentation of the full gospel message. The result is changed lives! Send a subscription today. 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 *************************** Editor’s Note: It isn’t often we reprint an entire article, usually just stories from within an article. However, this article by Ernest Lloyd is an exception: Count Your Blessings Don’t Count Sheep      A businessman had a nightly difficulty in getting off to sleep. He tried the plan of counting sheep, but that did not prove successful in his case. Then he decided to act on the suggestion of counting his many blessings. He thought of his good wife, his comfortable home, his studious boy and girl, his worth-while friends and neighbors, his good fortune in living in a free country, and many other blessings.      As he pondered on such things, it dawned on him that he was indebted to God, the Giver of every blessing. Then he thought of the Bible that his Christian mother had once given him, but which, through the busy years, had been neglected. He brought the Book out of its hiding place and decided to keep it on a stand near his bed. He entered upon the practice of reading and thinking about some Bible promise every night when retiring. He discovered that sound sleep was his when he rested on one of God’s promises.      So it may be with us. After a busy day we may retire in quiet confidence that God knows all about us and is able to work out what is best for us.      Mr. Dale Carnegie, author of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, recently wrote inThis Week magazine an account of his boyhood days on a Missouri farm. He mentioned the struggles the family went through when floods ruined their crops and destroyed their livestock. But the faith and courage of Dale Carnegie’s mother impressed him for life. She would go about her housework singing the good old hymn, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God hath done.” The boy never forgot the hymn, and he gladly confesses that today, after a half century, he frequently finds himself humming it.      Songs of the right kind soothe the nerves, relieve the worried mind, and are a blessing to one’s general health. It is well worth while to memorize a few hymns or gospel songs and to sing or whistle them now and then in the daily routine. Do not depend upon radio or records to furnish all your music. Sing your own. There is a definite blessing in it for both mind and body. A great writer has put it in these words: “Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise.”      Dr. J. H. Jowett, famous preacher and author, tells of going down into a coal mine to deliver an important message to one of the miners. When he got to the bottom of the shaft he asked the man in charge how he would find the miner. “Oh,” he replied, “you will have no trouble, he is sure to be singing.” Jowett had not gone very far along the mine drift when he heard a big, cheery voice singing:      “I’ve reached the land of corn and wine,      And all its riches fully mine;      Here shines undimmed one blissful day,      And all my night has passed away.”      Singing souls are contented souls. They remember their many blessings and thank God for His great mercies.      A train was crowded, and many passengers were standing. Some took the opportunity to express themselves in regard to the railway company, for they had been standing a couple of hours. At a station others came aboard, one of whom was an invalid who was carried in. As the passengers made way for him, one repeated his complaint about having to stand so long. The invalid looked at him and gently remarked, “Brother, you are fortunate to be able to stand.” They were all tired, of course, but the remark of the invalid did its work.      Yes, it is well to count our blessings and to remember that they come from our loving heavenly Father. He gives freely, and His daily gifts bless the unjust as well as the just. His promises are sure and comforting.      I met a busy physician recently, and when I asked him about the therapeutic value to worried and troubled minds of counting one’s blessings and memorizing the wonderful promises of God scattered through the Bible, he remarked, “My friend, I only wish I could get every patient to do it.”—By Ernest Lloyd, Signs of the Times, May 17, 1955. A few of God’s many promises: Exodus 33:14  Deuteronomy 33:27  Joshua 1:9  2 Chronicles 16:9  Psalm 23  Psalm 31:24  Psalm 34:7  Isaiah 12:2  Isaiah 26:3, 4  Isaiah 41:10  Isaiah 58:7, 8  John 14:1-3  Hebrews 13:5  Revelation 22:14  *************************** Looking for great eBooks? The largest selection of Adventist eBooks is found at www.AdventisteBooks.com ***************************      It is said that after the victory of Arcole, Napoleon Bonaparte walked about the camp at night and found a sentry who, exhausted by a day of battle, had fallen asleep.      Picking up the gun gently so as not to awaken the soldier, he took the duty until about the time the watch was to be relieved. Then the sentry awoke. Imagine his alarm when he saw his general performing his duty.      He cried out, “General Bonaparte, I am a lost man!” He knew that death was the punishment for sleeping on duty.      But Bonaparte answered: “Be at peace. The secret is mine. It is excusable when a brave soldier like thyself, after so much fatigue, should fall asleep; only another time choose a more fitting moment.”      He took the sentry’s place, and his forgiveness saved the man’s life.—By H. M. S. Richards, Signs of the Times, July 13, 1943. Quote: “Charity becomes bribery as soon as you use it as a bait.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, July 8, 1908. *************************** Looking for resources to give Bible Studies—check out this site: www.ToolsForEvangelism.com *************************** The Christian’s Storehouse Are you hungry? Christ will feed you with the bread of life. Matthew 5:6 Are you thirsty? He will give you a drink that satisfies. John 4:14 Are your clothes soiled and torn? He will give you a change of raiment. Zechariah 3:4. Are you naked? He will clothe you with a robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10. Are you soiled by sin? A fountain for cleansing has been opened for you. Zechariah 13:1. Are you lonesome? He will visit you. Revelation 3:20. Are you tired? He will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-30. Are you troubled? He will give you peace. John 14:27. Are you sad? He will comfort you. Isaiah 61:2, 3. Are you poor? He will make you rich. James 2:5. Are you blind? He will restore your sight. Revelation 3:17, 18. Are you wounded? He will bind up your wounds. Psalm 147:3. Are you sick? He is the Great Physician. Psalm 103:3. Are you friendless? He is a friend that never fails. Romans 8:38, 39. Are you homeless? He has prepared you a mansion. John 14:1-3. Are you in prison? He will liberate you. Isaiah 61:1. Are you defenseless? Weapons and armor are provided. Ephesians 6:11-18. Are you still in want? He will supply all your needs. Philippians 4:19.—By Taylor G. Bunch, Signs of the Times, March 1, 1921. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.