August 2019 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter

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August 2019 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. ***************************      Some years ago a boy quarreled with his father and left home. He said, “You’ll never see me again!”      Three tough years passed. He wanted to go home, but he was afraid. Would his father let him come back? He wrote his mother, told her that he would be on a certain train as it passed the house. He asked her to hang something white in the yard if it was all right with his dad to come home.      He was nervous on the train. A minister noticed, and asked what was wrong. He told him. They rode along together as the boy looked out the window.      Suddenly he started up excitedly. “Look, sir, my house is just around the bend, beyond the hill. Will you please look for me to see if there is something white? I can’t stand to look!”      The train lurched a bit as it made a slow curve, and the minister kept his eyes on the round of the hill. Then he forgot his dignity as he fairly shouted, “Look, son, look!”      There was the little farmhouse under the trees. But you could hardly see the house for white. It seemed that those lonely parents had taken every white sheet in the house, even every handkerchief—everything they could find that was white—and hung it out on the clothesline and on the trees!      That’s what God has done. He’s hung out all the stars He had—in dazzling white—all over the sky!      Don’t lose a moment in telling Him you want to come home!—By George E. Vandeman, These Times, November 1981. Quote: “The Christian church is the world’s only organization which people join by admitting that they are not worthy to become members of the group.”—By Howard Butt,These Times, February 1961. *************************** Don't miss the September issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online. ***************************      The coronation of King George VI of Britain was the first to be broadcast to the world by radio. In it was a magnificent testimony to the Bible. Those of us who were listening in were thrilled as the crystal-clear voice of the archbishop of Canterbury rang out through Westminster Abbey, and over the world, in these words: “Our gracious king, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the living oracles of God.” So were the Holy Scriptures presented to the king of a mighty empire.—By H. M. S. Richards, Signs of the Times, November 11, 1952. Quote: “After all, the lives that do the most for the world are the steady, quiet lives. They are like stars; they just stay in their appointed place and shine with the light God has given them. Meteors shoot brilliantly across the sky, and we exclaim and wonder, but long after they have vanished the stars shine on to guide us.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, January 27, 1942. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—A Living Sacrifice: Unsung Heroes of Adventist Missions, by Dr. David Trim. Many of our early missionaries made the ultimate sacrifice. They were committed to sharing the love of Christ. Dr. Trim tells stories of individuals you may have never known, but their service continues to inspire! CLICK HERE to read the first chapter of this book online. Order online or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955. ***************************      Many years ago, a poor, dirty, ragged, dissipated tramp found his way into the Bowery Mission in New York. On that particular morning, the pianist was absent and the singing done by that motley crowd was anything but good. After several failures, Mrs. Bird, the leader, asked for a volunteer to play the piano. The young “hobo” in the back seat heard the request and volunteered. Amid the jeers of those assembled, he rose, slouched along the aisle, ascended the platform with bleary eyes and tousled hair, and seated himself at the piano. Every breath was held, every eye strained.      Then a new light suddenly came into his eyes, the hopeless look passed away. As the dirty fingers fell upon the keys his entire being was changed, his whole frame quivered with emotion. The piano itself seemed to undergo a subtle transformation. When it was all over, Mother Bird spoke such kind words to the poor tramp, that they broke his heart. He became a Christian and was presently appointed organist of the mission. His fame spread far and wide. Many churches offered him splendid positions, but he remained true to his Bowery friends. Some of the most beautiful gospel songs of recent years are from his pen. He was one of the mission’s most successful speakers. He died a martyr to his incessant toil for his suffering fellow men. A beautiful tablet erected in the mission to his memory reads, “Victor H. Benke, died July 15, 1904. The men of the Bowery loved him.”      “A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Out of Mrs. Bird’s heart, which was warmed by the love of God, came the words that rescued this poor, hopeless man, and gave the world one of the most beautiful characters of these last days. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, June 13, 1906. Quote: “Nothing can fool people like money.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, October 8, 1929. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Why not share Signs of the Times® with a neighbor or relative? Sending a subscription is simple, inexpensive, and effective. Make a difference TODAY! Call: 1-800-765-6955 or go online at: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-yearly-us-subscription.html ***************************      She was a little, old woman, very plainly dressed in black bombazine that had seen much wear. Her bonnet was very old-fashioned, and people stared at her tottering up the aisle of the church, evidently bent on securing one of the best seats, for a great man preached that day. The house was filled with splendidly dressed people who had heard of the fame of the preacher, of his learning, his intellect, and his goodness; and they wondered at the presumption of the poor old woman. She must have been in her dotage, for she picked out the pew of the richest and proudest member of the church and took a seat. The three ladies seated there beckoned to the sexton, who bent over the intruder and whispered something; but she was hard of hearing, and smiled as she said gently, “Oh, I’m quite comfortable here, quite comfortable.”      “But you are not wanted here,” said the sexton pompously; “there is not room. Come with me, my good woman; I will see that you have a seat.”      “Not room?” said the old woman. “Why, I’m not crowded a bit. I rode ten miles to hear the sermon today, because. . . “      But here the sexton seized her arm, shook it in an underhanded way, and then she took the hint. Turning quietly to the ladies, who were spreading their rich dresses over the space she left vacant, she said gently, “I hope, my dears, there’ll be room in heaven for us all.” Then she followed the pompous sexton to the rear of the church, where in the last pew she was seated between a girl in threadbare garments and a shabby old man.      “She must be crazy,” said one of the ladies. “What can an ignorant old woman like her want to hear Dr. ____ preach for? Those people are so persistent! The idea of forcing herself into our pew! There’s Dr. ____. Is he not grand? What a stately man! You know he has promised to dine with us while he is here.”      He was a commanding looking man; and as he looked over the vast crowd of worshipers gathered in the vast church, he seemed to scan every face. His hand was on the Bible when he beckoned to the sexton, who mounted the steps, to receive a mysterious message. And then the three ladies in the pew were electrified to see him take his way the whole length of the church, to return with the old woman, whom he placed in the front pew. The great preacher looked at her with a smile of recognition, and then the services proceeded.      “Who was she?” asked the ladies as they passed the sexton at the door.      “The preacher’s mother,” was the reply.—By James Clarence Harvey, Signs of the Times, August 8, 1911. Quote: “I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong, and yet, far over the waters, its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by your conduct, and it shall not fail to be illustrious.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, November 25, 1913 *************************** Everything you need to give a Bible study—visit www.ToolsForEvangelism.com ***************************      Standing on top of the Cheviot Hills, a little son’s hand clasped in his, a father taught the message of the measureless love of God. Pointing northward over Scotland, southward over England, eastward over the German Ocean, westward over hill and dale, and then, sweeping his hand and eye around the whole circling horizon, he said: “Johnny, my boy, God’s love is as big as all that.”      “Why, father,” the boy cheerily replied, with sparkling eyes, “then we must be in the middle of it!”—By George W. Wells, Signs of the Times, October 18, 1921. Quote: “Fear is a faith killer, but faith is a fear killer.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, September 2, 1919. *************************** Looking for great Adventist eBooks? Visit www.AdventisteBooks.com ***************************      It came to pass that a man went to market, having on his shoulder a string of seven large copper coins. Seeing a beggar crying for alms, he gave the poor man six of his seven coins.      Then the beggar, instead of being grateful, crept up behind the kind man and stole the seventh coin also.      What an abominable wretch! Yes; but in saying this, you may condemn yourselves. We receive from the hand of the gracious God six days, yet many are not content. The seventh they also steal.—By T. E. Bowen, Signs of the Times, November 25, 1908. Quote: “The great question of a man’s life is just his attitude toward God, whether he has his face or his back toward God.”—By William Watson, Signs of the Times, November 14, 1911. *************************** NEW from Signs of the Times—Too Loud to Ignore—a perfect sharing piece about the Three Angels’ Messages! CLICK HERE to order! ***************************      It is often given as a wonderful proof of confidence in a friend, that once when the great Grecian emperor, Alexander, was ill, it was told to him in a letter that his physician intended to give him poison under the form of medicine. The emperor put the note under his pillow.      The physician came, poured out the potion, and gave it to him. The emperor looked his friend full in the face, drank the contents of the goblet, then handed him the letter.      It was a beautiful trust. Like confidence, we are to have in the will of Christ for us. We are never to doubt His love nor His wisdom.—By J. R. Miller, Signs of the Times, September 30, 1913. Quote: “He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.”—By Samuel Johnson, Signs of the Times, January 3, 1911. *************************** Tracts are one of the easiest and most effective ways to share your faith. Keep a supply with you to share. Signs of the Times has a large selection. CLICK HERE to see them! *************************** Button Up Your Lip If you heard a bit of gossip      Whether false or whether true, Be it of a friend or stranger,      Let me tell you what to do: Button up your lip securely      Lest the tale you should repeat Bring sorrow unto someone      Whose life is not so sweet. If you know of one who yielded      To temptation long ago; But whose life has since been blameless,      Let me tell you what to do: Button up your lip securely,      His the secret, God alone Has the right to sit in judgment,      Treat it as to you unknown. Sometimes life is filled with troubles.      Oft its burdens are severe. Do not make it any harder      By a careless word of sneer. Button up your lip securely      ‘Gainst the words that bring a tear, But be swift of words of comfort,      Words of praise and words of cheer.—Unknown, These Times, August 1962. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.